A 

DISSERTATION 

ON THE 

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN ASIA. 

IN TWO PARTS. 



IMPRIMATUR, 



J. PARSONS, 

Vice-Can. 

Coll. Ball. 
Jan. 9, 1808. 



A 

DISSERTATION 

ON THE 

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN ASIA. 

JK TIJO r^RTS. 

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, 

A BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

OF THE 

PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN DIFFERENT NATIONS 

SINCE ITS FIRST PROMULGATION ; 
ILLUSTRATED BY A CHRONOLOGICAL CHARJT. 

BY^HE 

REV. HUGH PEARSON, M. A. 
OF ST. John's college, oxford. 



OXFORD, 

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE AUTHOR : 

Sold by J. Parkek ; by J. IIatchari), Piccadilly, and by Rlcflrs. Rivington, 
St. Paul's Church Yard, London. 

1808. 




2. V3 / so 



TO THE 

REV. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, D. D. 

VICE PROVOST OF THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM, 

IN BENGAL, 

THE FOLLOWING DISSERTATION 

IS INSCRIBED, 
WITH SENTLMENTS OF UNFEIGNED RESPECT 

AND ESTEEM, 

BY 

THE AUTHOR. 



ExtraB from a Letter of the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, D. D. 
Vice-Provoft of the College of Fort William in Bengal, to the 
Rev. the Vice- Chancellor of the Univerfity of Oxford, dated 
June 4, ] 805. 

"SIR, 

" I HAVE the honour to propofe to the Univerfity of Oxford the fol- 
" lowing Subjects of Prize Compofition. 

" For the beft Work, in Englifh Profe embracing the following Sub- 
" jecls : 

" I. The probable Defign of the divine Providence in fubjedling To 
" large a portion of Afia to the Britifh dominion. 

" II. The Duty, the Means, and the Confequences of tranflating the 
" Scriptures into the Oriental Tongues, and of promoting Chriftian know- 
" ledge in Afia. 

" III. A Brief Hifl^oric View of the Progrefs of the Gofpel in different 
" nations, fince its firft promulgation ; illuftrated by Maps, flicwing its lu- 
" mlnous tract throughout the world ; with chronological notices of its 
" duration in particular places. The regions of Mahomedanifm to be 
" marked with red, and thofe of Paganifm with a dark colour. ;^500. 

" The Candidates to prefix fuch Title to the Work as they may think 
" fit." 

The determination of the Prize was directed to be announced on the 
fourth day of June, 1807, and a Copy of the Work to be prefentcd by the 
Univerfity to the King. 



A Convocation being holden on the thirteenth of December, 1803> 
it was agreed to accept the faid Propofal ; and on the fourth of June, 1807, 
being the day appointed for that purpofe, the Prize was adjudged to the 
Rev. Hugh Pearson, M. A. of St. John's College. 



A 

DISSERTATION 

ON THE 

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN ASIA. 

IN Tiro PARTS. 

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, 

A BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

OK THE 

PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN DIFFERENT NATIONS 

SINCE ITS FIRST PROMULGATION ; 
ILLUSTRATED BY A CHRONOLOGICAL CHART- 

BY THE 

REV. HUGH PEARSON, M. A. 
OF ST. John's college, oxford. 



Toy zrqotreg^ovTu j^go'vov, eSv 
"EguTat, xxiglv S<5ouf. Pind. 



OXFORD, 

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE AUTHOR : 

Sold by J. Pakkeb ; by J. IlATCirAKD, Piccadilly, and by Meflrs. Rivington, 
St. Paul's Church Yard, London. 

1808. 



TO THE 

REV. CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, D. D. 

VICE PROVOST OF THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM 

IN BENGAL, 

THE FOLLOWING DISSERTATION 

IS INSCRIBED, 
\\ ITII SENTIMENTS OF UNFEIGNED RESPECT 

AND ESTEEM, 

BY 

THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 



E extenfive dominions which Great Britain has acquired in 
the Eaft are fo intimately connedled with her general power and 
profperity, that no inquiry concerning them can be deemed alto- 
gether dertitute of importance. The fubjedls of the following 
DifTertation are, therefore, entitled to no fmall fliare of attention 
and regard, fince they relate to the higheft interefts both of India 
and of Britain. The direction, which has of late been given to 
the public mind with refpedl to them, will be applauded by all 
who confider, that the firft duty, as it is the undoubted policy, of 
every government, is to provide for the civil and religious welfare 
of its fubjedls. Much difcuffion has, in confequence, been already 
produced ; and it cannot be doubted, that a full and fair inveftiga- 
tion of thefe points will ilTue in a general convidion of the ne- 
celiity of diffufing Chriilianity in Alia. 

The Author of the following pages is fully aware of the diffi- 
culty of fuch an inveftigation, and of the imperfedl manner in 
which he has conduced it. He could have wiflicd, that his work 

b had 



X PREFACE. 

had been more Mortlij of the dillinguiflied approbation with 
which it has been honoured. He trulls, however, that he has 
evinced the probable Defign of the divine Providence in fubjeding 
fo large a portion of Afia to our dominion ; that he has eftabliflied 
the Obligation of the Britifh government to promote the propaga- 
tion of the Chriftian religion in that quarter of the world ; that he 
has recommended Means, the adoption of which would eventually 
fecure that objecl ; and that he has pointed out the beneficial Con- 
fequences which would probably refult from its attainment. 

It may perhaps be aiked, why the Author Ihould, in one parti- 
cular, have reverfed the order in which the fubjedls were arranged 
by Dr. Buchanan, in prefixing, inftead of fubjoining, the Brief 
Hiftoric View of the Progrefs of Chriflianity } In reply to fuch a 
queftion, it may be obferved, that the view of the general propa- 
gation of the Gofpel from its firft promulgation, ought naturally 
to precede the confideration of any meafures for its extenfion yet 
further in any particular country ; in order that the experience of 
pafi; ages might diredl us in the prefent, and that the means now 
propofed to be adopted might be fancftioned by former exam- 
ples. It may, however, be thought, that this Hiftoric View, 
though as concife as the very extenlive nature of the fubjedl 
would allow, detains the reader unnecefTarily from the fubfequent 
difcuffions, and bears an undue proportion to the reft of the work. 
Such an objection, the Author conceives, derives its principal 
force from the extraordinary attention, which the queftion relative 

to 



PREFACE. 



XI 



to the propagation of Chriftianity in India has lately attraded. 
Under other circumftances, the Hiftoric View of its progrefs 
would have appeared fufficiently interefting, to have authorized 
the aflignment of a larger fpace than it at prefent occupies. 

The Author does not prefent the annexed Chart to the public 
as anfwering his own wilhes, or as fulfilling the intention of Dr. 
Buchanan, in requiring maps for the illuftration of the progrefs of 
the Gofpel. Its defign is to defcribe the prevalence of Chrifti- 
anity, Mohammedifm, and Paganifm, in different ages, through- 
out the world, fince the Chriftian aera ; and by a reference to the 
Hiftoric View, every part of it may be fufficiently explained. It 
would have been defirable to have exprefled the extent and popu- 
lation of the countries, in which the religions in queftion feverally 
predominate. But, after much reflexion, the Author found, that 
this was an objed:, which could not be attained within the limits 
of the time appointed by Dr. Buchanan for the completion of the 
work. 

With refpect to his fources of information, the fituation of the 
Author was, in general, unfavourable. He ought at the fame 
time to acknowledge, that, in fome parts of his Diflertation, he 
had the advantage of the fuggeftions of one diftinguiflied per- 
fon, whofe fentiments on every point connected with Oriental po- 
licy are entitled to the higheft confideration. 



b2 



It 



PREFACE. 



It only remains for the Author, in difmilling the following 
fheets, to exprefs his cordial wifh, that they may in fome meafure 
be inftrumental in promoting the great obje<3:, which the benevo- 
lent Propofer of the prefent inquiry has in view ; and in the ac- 
cemplifhment of which the Author feels deeply interefted, being 
firmly convinced, that it would be eminently conducive to the 
glory of God, the happinefs of his fellow creatures, and the prof- 
perity of his country. 

Elmdon, Warwickshire. 



CON- 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

A Brief Hifloric Fieiv of the Progrefs of the Gofpel in all na- 
tions fince itsfirfl promulgation ----- i 

A Differtation on the Propagation of Chriflianity in Afia, 

Part I. On the pr-ohahle Dejign of the divhie Providence in fuhjeB- 
ing fo large a portion of Afia to the Britifk dominion - - 7 1 

Part II. On the Duty, Aleans, and Confequences of tranftating the 
Scriptures into the Oriental languages, and of promoting Chrifliaii 
hioivledge in Aft a. 

Chap. I. The Duty of tranflating the Scriptures into the Oriental 
languages, and of promoting Chriflian knowledge in Afia - pi 

Chap. II. The Means of tranflating the Scriptures into the Orien- 
tal languages^ and of promoting Chrifiian knowledge in Afia. 

Sect. t. TranJIaiion of i be Scriptures - - - _ . 125 

Sect. 2. An Ecclefafllcal Efiabli/hment - - - _ j^q 

Sect. 3. Mfjions ------ j^g 

Sect. 4. Schools ------ 

Chap. III. The Confequences of tranflating the Scriptures into the 
Oriental languages, and of promoting Chriflian knowledge in Afia 1 93 

Notes - - - - - - - - - 217 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

OF THE 

PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL 

IN 

DIFFERENT NATIONS SINCE ITS FIRST PROMULGATION. 



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IN DIFFERENT NATIONS SINCE ITS FIRST PROMULGATION. 



Abufque Eoo cardine ad ultimam 
Metam occidcntis fidera permeans 
Obliqua, vitali calore 

Cunfta creatque, fovetque, alitque. 

G. Buchanan. 



i HE ftate of the world at the introdudlion of Chriflianity was State of the 
fuch as at once evinced its neceffity, and prefented the nioft fa- o^J^'^^o ^"jg^' 
vourable opportunity for its extenfive propagation. ^°'"'^^sof 

The various nations, of which the Roman empire was com- 
pofed, were funk in the grolfeft fupcrftition, and dcbafed by 
the prevalence of the moft pernicious vices*. The utmoft of 
what mere human wifdom could do towards the moral improve- 



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V 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



ment of the world had been fairly tried during the long courfe 
of four thoufand years ; and the refult of that protracted trial 
had ferved to prove, that the world by its own wifdom knew 
not God, and was unable to difcover and enforce the principles of 
true religion and virtue. The Jews, the only people to whom a 
divine communication had been made, were in a ftate of degene- 
racy and corruption : it was time therefore that the fupreme Go- 
vernor of the univerfe, who for wife though myfiierious reafons 
had fo long permitted this ignorance, Iliould at length introduce 
fome clearer and more efFe6lual manifeftation of his will, to cor- 
real the errors of mankind, and to refcue them from the corrup- 
tions and mifery in which they were involved. 

For the fuccefsful promulgation of fuch a divine revelation, the 
political fitiiation of the greater part of the world afforded peculiar 
advantages. Nations differing widely from each other, both as to 
their language and their manners, were comprehended within the 
vafi limits of the Roman empire, and united together in fecial in- 
tercourfe. An eafy communication was thus opened to the re- 
moteft countries; and the mofi; ignorant and barbarous people had 
gradually felt the civilizing influence of the laws, the commerce, 
and the literature of the Romans. At the birth of Chrifl, the em- 
pire was, moreover, in a flate of greater freedom from wars and 
diflenfions, than it had been during many preceding years ; as if 
the tranquillity which it then enjoyed had been deligned not only 
to facilitate the progrefs of his religion, but to be defcriptive of 
the benign and peaceful effects which it was intended to produce 
among mankind. 

Sirth and For fuch beneficent purppfes, and at fuch an aufpicious period, 
C^'ift7 defcended upon earth, and afTumed our nature. 

It would be foreign to the purpofe of this brief view of the pro- 
grefs 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



3 



grefs of Chriltianity, to dwell on the fucceeding hiftory of ChrilT: 
liimfelf. Suffice it to fay, that, during the courfe of his miniftrj 
upon earth, our Lord demonftrated the truth of his divine milTion 
by a feries of unquellionable miracles ; delivered to his Difciples 
the leading doctrines and precepts of his religion; and, fliortly after 
his afcenlion, qualified them, by the efFulion of the Holy Ghoft, for 
the great and important work of propagating his religion through- 
out the world. 



It was the exprefs command of Chrift, that " repentance and cent. 
" remilTion of fins Ihould be preached in his name amone; all na- '■ 

tions, begmning at Jerulalem. Ihis is a paflage of Scripture, church firii 
which, as it has been juftly obferved', at once points out what the 
Chriltian religion is, and where w^e may look for its commence- 
ment. The hrft Chriftian Church was accordingly ellabliflicd at 
Jerufalem ; but within a fliort time after the memorable day of 
Pentecoft, many thoufands of the Jews, partly natives of Judaia, 
and partly inhabitants of other Roman provinces, were converted 
to the faith of Clirill. The perfccution which foon after fucceeded 
the death of the proto-martyr St. Stephen was the occalion of 
propagating the Gofpcl throughout Palelline. The Apoftles alone Andthrougk- 
ventured to remain at .Jerufalem. The reft of the Difciples d^f, o"*^ l''^^'*^'"^- 
perfed themfclvcs into the fcvcral parts of Judcva, Galilee, and Sa- 
maria ; and wherever they went, they fuccefst'ully preached the 
doctrine of Chrill. 



While the Apoftles and others were thus diligently employed in Converfionot 
propagatitig the Gofpel, Saul of Tarfus was perfecuting the infant 
Church. But in the niidft of his career, he was fuddcnly con- 



Milncr's Cluircli Ilirtory, chap. i. 
U 2 



verted 



4 BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

CENT, verted to the faith of Chrift, and commilTioned as his Apoftle to 

— ~ the Gentiles. Independently of the miraculous gifts with which 

this extraordinary man was endowed, his natural talents were of 
the higheft order, and he had made conliderable attainments both 
in Hebrew and Grecian learning. He poflelTed alfo a fpirit of in- 
defatigable labour, and of invincible fortitude and patience, which 
admirably qualified him for the arduous office to which he was 
called. To the eminent abilities and exertions of this great Apo- 
ftle muft accordingly be attributed much of the unparalleled fuc- 
cefs of the Gofpel at its firft publication. 

About this time, the Churches throughout Jud^a, Galilee, and 
Samaria enjoyed an interval of repofe from the perfecution of the 
Jews, and were in confequence conliderably ftrengthened and en- 
larged. At this favourable conjuncture. Saint Peter leaving Jeru- 
falem, where, with the reft of the Apoftles, he had hitherto re- 
mained, travelled through all quarters of Paleftine, confirming the 
difciples, and particularly vilited Lydda, Saron, and Joppa, the 
inhabitants of which places alraoft univerfally received the Gof- 
pel 



Adnoiffion of Hitherto Chriftianity had been preached to the Jews alone; but 
into the ' t^c time was now arrived for the full difcovery of the divine pur- 
Chnftian p^^g extend the knowledp;e of it to the Gentiles. This im- 

Church. ^ 

portant event took place at Ccefarea, the refidence of the Roman 
Governor, about feven years after the afcenfion of our Lord. 
During the tranfaclions which have beenjuft related, fome further 
circumftances took place relpe6ling the extenfion of Chriftianity. 
When the Difciples, who were driven from Jerufalem on the 
death of St. Stephen, had paffed through Judsea and Samaria, they 



' Ad,s ix. 35. 



travelled 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



5 



travelled as far as Phosnice, Cyprus, and Antiocb, as yet confining c EN t. 

their labours to the Jews. At length, however, fome of them, 

on their arrival at Antioch, addrefled themfelves to the Greek'' in- 
habitants of that city, and a great number of them were in con- 
fequence converted to the faith.. Intelligence of this event being 
communicated to the Church at Jerufalem, the Apoftles immedi- 
ately fent Barnabas, to confirm the work of their converfion ; 
who, finding fo promifing a field for Apoftolical labours, went to 
Tarfus, and brought back with him the converted Saul. At An- Saul and Bar- 
tioch they continued a year, forming and ellablifliing the firft ^-^och. 
Chriftian Church among the heathen ; and in this city the Difci- 
ples were firfi: denominated Chrijiians. 

The fubfequent hiftory in the Ads of the Apofrles is almoIlTravoisl^t" 
exclufively confined to the travels of St. Paul and his fellow- ' 
labourers, which are fo univerfally known, that it ^^'ould be fuper- 
fluous to enter into any minute detail of them. It may be fuffi- 
cient to obferve in the words of the Apoftle himfelf, that " from 

Jerufalem, and round about unto Illyricum, he fully preached 
" the Gofpel of Chrifi:." This comprehenfive circuit included Sy- 
ria, Phoenicia, the rich and populous provinces of Afia Elinor, and 
of Macedonia and Greece ; in which extenfive diflriAs, the cities 
of Antioch, Lyftra, and Derbe, of Theflalonica and Philippi, of 
Athens, Corinth, and Ephefus, particularly witnefied his zeal and 
activity in the Chriftian caufe. Nor were thefc the boundaries 
of his miniftry. Rome itfelf, and, according to Clement and 
others'^, the countries weft of Italy, including Spain, and pof- 
fibly the fhores of Gaul and Britain, were vifitcd by this great 

* i. e. Heathens. Sec the various reading. 

' Wells's Iliftorical Geography of the Old and New Teflament, vol. ii. p. 298. 

Apoftle, 



6 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. Apoftle, till his Tarious labours in the fervice of Chrill were at 

— length terminated by his martyrdom near Rome in the year 64 

or 65. 

Travels of Of the travels of the reft of the Apoftles, and of the further pro- 
ApofllTs! pagation of Chriftianity during the remainder of the firft century, 
but very fliort and imperfe6l accounts remain. St. Peter was 
more particularly fuccefsful amongft his countrymen the Jews. 
The laft hiftorical notice in Scripture of this zealous Apotlle pre- 
fents him to us at Antioch. After this, he was probably engaged 
in preaching chiefly to the Jews of the difperlion in Pontus, Gala- 
tia, Cappadocia, Alia proper, and Bithynia, to whom his firft 
Epiftle is addreired: and about the year 63, he is fuppofed to have 
left thofe provinces, and to have proceeded to Rome*^; where he 
is reported to have received the crown of martyrdom in the fame 
year with his illuftrious fellow-apofiile St. Paul. 

St. John is faid to have continued in Paleftine till near the com- 
mencement of the Jewifh war, (A. D. 66.) at which eventful pe- 
riod he quitted that devoted country, and travelled into Afia. He 
fixed his refidence at Ephefus ; which celebrated city and the 
neighbouring territory M^ere the great fcene of his miniftry during 
the remainder of his long extended life. 

St. Matthew, according to Socrates ^, preached in the Afiatic 
Ethiopia. Egypt, according to Eufebius and St. Jerome, was vi- 
fited by St. Mark, who founded a Church at Alexandria. The 
extenfive field which is afiigned to St. Thomas by Origen and So- 
phronius is Parthia, Media, Carmania, BaAriana, and the neigh- 
bouring nations. Socrates records St. Andrew to have preached 
in Scythia, and St. Bartholomew in India. 



f Eufeb. Hift. Eccl. lib. Hi. 



g Hift. Eccl. lib. i. c. ig. 

Befides 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



Befides the diftricls which are thus affigned by ecclefiaftical cent. 

tradition to thefe Apoftles, there are others, in which Chrittian ■ — 

Churches were unqueftionably planted, and which are incidentally 
mentioned in Scripture ; as Gyrene and its neighbourhood, and 
the whole northern coaft of Africa ; Cyprus, Crete, and the iflands 
of the .^gean fea. It is, however, impoffible to trace with accu- 
racy the travels of the Apoftles and their various fellow-labourers 
in the great work of propagating Chriftianity throughout the 
world. 

Yet it is evident from the narrative of St. Luke, from the Epi- General pro- 
ftles of St. Paul and St. Peter, from the tellimony of ecclefiattical fiaHUy^tki'rli^^^ 
writers, and occafionally even of heathen authors themfelves ^, ^^^J^^^^ 
that the Gofpel was preached in aim oft every quarter of the 
Roman empire, and even far beyond its boundaries, within the 
fpace of thirty years after our Lord's afcenfion ; and that in 
moft of thofe parts great numbers were " daily added to the 
" Church i." 



Before we purfue the hiftory of its progrcfs during the fubfe- Caufes of the 
quent ages, it may not, however, be irrelevant to the defign of J^'J'^Jjj, 
this brief Iketch of the fubjcd, to advert to the caufes of the rapid 
cxtenfion of the Gofpel which has been juft exhibited, and to the 
cffccis which it produced in the world. Various have been the 
attempts of Antichriftian writers to account for the extraordinary 
propagation of Chritlianity at this period from the operation of 

*" See particularly Tacit. AnnaJ. lib, xv. C. Plin. Tnijano Imp. lib. x. Ep. 97. 
with I'aley's remarks on tliofc paHages, Evid. vol. ii. p. 234. 

' Col. i. 6, aj. The extraordinary progrefs of Chriftianity during the lirfl cen- 
tury is admirably defcribed by Bifliop Pearfon, in his Expofition of the Creed, 
Art. Cbr'tjl; and by Dr. Paley, Evidences, vol. ii. p. 220 — 227. Sec alfo note B. 

caufes 



s 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, caufes merely human. One ingenious and laboured effort of this 

— kind was particularly made by a late celebrated hiftorian ^, whofe 

unhappy prejudices againft the religion of Chrift led him to attri- 
bute its rapid fuccefs to certain caufes, which he reprefented as 
being wholly unconne(3:ed with any divine interpotition. 

It cannot be denied, that the wifdom of Providence had or- 
dained the introduction of Chriftianity at a period, when the ftate 
of the world was peculiarly favourable to its fuccefsful propaga- 
tion ; and to thefe we have already briefly adverted. Yet, not- 
withftanding the moral necetfities of mankind, and the extent, 
union, and peace of the Roman empire, Chriftianity had to 
contend with difficulties, which no mere human fupport could 
have enabled it to furmount. It was directly oppofed to the 
moft inveterate prejudices of the Jews, and to the prevailing 
principles, cuftoms, and inclinations of the Gentiles. Its myf- 
terious and humiliating dodrines were calculated to offend the 
pride of the philofopher ; the limplicity of its worfhip but ill 
accorded with the multiplied fuperftitions of the vulgar ; and the 
purity and ftriftnefs of its moral precepts were alike irreconcile- 
able to the vicious difpolitions and practices of all. In addition to 
thefe difficulties, Chriftianity had to encounter, both among Jews 
and Gentiles, the machinations of interefted priefts, and the jealous 
and oppreffive policy of princes and magiftrates ; and actually fuf- 
tained a feries of perfecutions from its firft introduction to its efta- 
blifliment as the religion of the Roman empire, which were alone 
fufficient to have overwhelmed and extinguilhed a fyftem not 

^ Hift. of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. i. chap, 15. For fa- 
tisfaftory replies to the reafonings and infinuations of the fceptlcal hiftorian, fee 
the Biftiop of LlandafF's Apology for Chriftianity, and the Tra£ts of Lord Hailes 
and Mr. Milner. 

founded 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



9 



founded in truth, and fupported only by human wifdom and c E N T. 

power. '■ — 

That Chriflianity, as is univerfally acknowledged, fliould tri- 
umph over thefe accumulated difficulties, and, within the firft cen- 
tuTj after its introduclion, become widely difFufed, not only in rude 
and barbarous countries, but among the moll civilized and poliflicd 
nations of the world, that is, under circumftances which mull 
have proved fatal to the moll artful impollure, is a fa6l unparal- 
leled in the hillory of mankind, and can only be fatisfa6lorily ac- 
counted for on the ground of its divine origin, and of fome fuper- 
natural interpolition in its favour. And fuch interpolition, ac- 
cording to the exprefs promife of their divine jNIaller, actually ac- - 
companied the minillry of the Apoftles ; " They went forth and 
" preached every where, the Lord working with them, and con- 
" firming the word with figns following '." The various miracu- 
lous gifts which they publicly exercifed, and communicated to 
others, irrefiltibly engaged the attention of mankind, and indif- 
putably confirmed the divine origin and truth of their do(5lrine. 
But, befides thefe more extraordinary and fenfible attellations to 
their miniflry, there were both in their infi:rud;ions themfelves, 
and in the manner in which they were conveyed, and in their ge- 
neral difpofitions and conduct, as real, though not as flriking, 
marks of divine agency and guidance. They difplayed in the mofl 
fimple yet forcible manner the intrinfic excellence of Chrillianity, 
the perfedlion of its morality, the purity and ftrength of its mo- 
tives, the awful nature of its punifliments, and the fublimity of its 
rewards. They were, above all, examples in their own pcrfbns of 
the truths which they laboured to inculcate upon others, exhibit- 
ing in their uniform practice the fublimell virtues of our holy re- 
ligion. 

' Mark xv i. 20. 

c Nor 



10 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. Nor was the refult of their endeavours to inftru6l and reform 

~— mankind lefs eminently fuccefsful than might juftlj be expelled 

fluenceof from the Operation of fuch powerful caufes. The change which 
Clinftianity. gradually effected in the moral condition of the world by the 
labours of the firfl preachers of Chriftianity, is univerfally allowed 
to have been, in the higheft degree, beneficial and important. The 
Hate of fuperftition and vice, in which both Jews and Gentiles were 
involved previous to the introdu6lion of Chriftianity, has been al- 
ready mentioned ; but a tlriking difference immediately appears 
wherever either were converted to that heavenly religion. The 
accounts which may be derived from the A6ts of the Apoftles and 
from the Epillles of St. Paul, confirmed as they are incidentally 
by the tefi:imony of an impartial witnefs exhibit the moft pleaf- 
ing and fatisfadlory view of the pure and elevated principles, dif- 
pofitions, and manners of the primitive Chrifi:ians. The influence 
of Chrifiianity was, it is true, at firfl; confined to individuals, and 
chiefly to the middle and lower clafl^es of fociety. But as the 
numbers of the Difciples are uniformly reprefented to have borne, 
at an early period, no inconfiderable proportion to the reft; of the 
people, and were every where daily increafing, the beneficial con- 
fequences of their principles and condudl were felt in public as 
well as in private life. Many immoral and cruel practices were 
difcontinued, and at length aboliflied ; the condition of the lower 
orders of the people was gradually ameliorated, and the general 



See the letter of Pliny already referred to, in which the blamelefsnefs and 
purity of charafter which diftinguifhed the firfl: difciples of Chrift are diflindlly 
acknowledged. The ancient Apologifl:s, alfo, of the Church conflantly appeal to 
their virtuous condudt, and to the beneficial efFedts of Chriftianity, as an evidence 
in their favour, with a confidence which nothing but a confcioufnefs of its truth 
could have infpired. 

ftate 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



ftate of the Roman empire became in the courfe of a few cen- cent. 
turies vifiblj and eflentiallj improved ~ — 

But to refume our account of the progrefs of Chrirtianitv. CENT. 

"11 

During the fecond century the boundaries of the Chritlian Church 



were conliderably enlarged. It is, indeed, by no means eafy to Progrefs^dur- 

determine, with any degree of certainty, the different countries cond century 

into which the Gofpel was firft introduced in this age. Juftin the spa^it'cauf' 

martyr, who wrote about the year lo6 after the afcenfion of our -^"^ 

Lord, fpeaks of its extenfive propagation in thefe remarkable 

words : " There is not a nation, either of Greek or Barbarian, or 

" of any other name, even of thofe who wander in tribes and live 

" in tents, amongll; whom prayers and thankfgivings are not of- 

" fered to the Father and Creator of the univerfe by the name of 

" the crucified Jefus°." Thefe expreffions of the eloquent Father 

may be admitted to be fomewhat general and declamatory ; yet it 

is obvious, that his defcription muft, in a confiderable degree, have 

correfponded with the truth. Undoubted teftimonies remain of 

the exiftence of Chriftianity in this century in Germany, Spain, 

Gaul, and Britain. It is potTiblc, as we have already feen, that the 

light of the Gofpel might have dawned on the Tranfalpine Gaul 

before the conclufion of the Apotlolic age ; but the eftablilhment 

of Chriftian Churches in that part of Europe cannot be fatisfacto- 

rily afcertained before the fecond century P. At that period, Po- 

" See, on the fubjeft of the beneficial influence of Chriftianity, Paley's Evi- 
dences, vol. ii. chap. 7. and the Bifliop of London's late Effay. See alfo Mr. 
Nares's Sermon on the Tranflation of the Scriptures into the Oriental Languages, 
note 17. 

° Dial, cum Try ph. 

p See note C. MoHieim fuppofca, that fomc preachers in the firft ages might 
have laboured in Gaul, but with little fuccefs. And with this opinion Tilleiuont 

c 2 nearlv- 



12 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, tliinus, in concert with Irenseus and others from Alia, laboured fo 

— ~ fuccefsfully in Gaul, that Churches were founded at Lyons and 

Vienne. From Gaul Chrifiianity appears to have palTed into that 
part of Germany which was fubjecft to the Romans, and frorn 
thence into our own country. By TertuUian alfo it is related, 
that the Moors and G^tulians of Africa, feveral nations inhabiting 
the borders of Spain, various provinces of France, and parts of 
Britain inacceffible to the Romans, and alfo the Sarmatians, Daci, 
Germans, and Scythians, received the Gofpel in this age 9. To- 
wards the end of the century, Pantaenus, a phiiofopher. of Alex- 
andria, is faid by Eufebius'^ to have preached in India, and to have 
found Cbriftians in that country. But although there is reafon to 
believe that India had already partially received the light of 
Cbriftianity, it is more probably fuppofed, that the labours of Pan- 
taenus were dire6led to certain Jews of Arabia Felix, who had 
been previoufly inftrudled by St. Bartholomew the Apoftle^ 

Caufes, The fame caiijes, which produced the extraordinary and rapid 
fuccefs of Chriftianity in the firft century, contributed to its pro- 
grefs in the fecond. The gift of tongues was, indeed, beginning 
to be withdrawn from the preachers of the Gofpel ; but other mi- 
raculous powers were undoubtedly continued during this century j 

nearly agrees. See Moftieim. Comment, de Rebus Chriftianis ante Conftantinam, 
feft. 3. The late reception of Chriftianity in Gaul is argued from Sulp. Sev. 
lib. ii. cap. 33. " Ac turn primum inter Gallias martyria vifa; ferius trans Alpes 
" religione Dei fufcepta." Thefe were the martyrs of Lyons. 

^ Ad Jud. c, 7. 

' Hift. Eccl. lib. V. cap. 10. 

' See Mofheim, cent. ii. part 1. Other ecclefiaftical writers, however, inter- 
pret this account of Eufebius as literally referring to India, particularly Jortin and 
Milner. 

though,. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



though, as the number of Chriliian Churches increafed, they were CENT. 
... . . . . " II 

gradually diminiflied. In addition to thefe divine and fupernatu- '■ 

ral caufes of the propagation of Chriftianity, one of a more ordi- 
nary nature may be mentioned, as having contributed materially 
to this important effect. This M^as the tranjlation of the New Tef- 
tament into different languages, more efpecially into the Latin, 
which was now more univerfally known than any other. Of the 
Latin verfions, that which has been diftinguiftied by the name of 
the Italic ^ was the moil celebrated, and was followed by the Sy- 
riac, the Egyptian, and the Ethiopic, the dates of which cannot, 
however, be accurately afcertained. 

In the third century the progrefs of Chriftianity in the world CENT, 

was very conliderable, though, with refpccl to the particular coun- — ' 

tries into which it w'as introduced, the fame degree of uncertainty 
prevails as was noticed in the fecond. Tlie celebrated Origen, hav- 
ing been invited from Alexandria by an Arabian prince, lucceedcd 
in converting a tribe of wandering Arabs to the ChritHan faith". 
The fierce and warlike nation of the Goths, who, inhabiting; the Convcrfion 

^ of the Golhs 

countries of Moelia and 1 brace, made perpetual nicurfions into 
the neighbouring provinces, and fome likcwife of the adjoining 
tribes of Sarmatia, received the knowledge of the Gofpel by means 
of feveral Bifliops, who were either fent thither from Afia, or had 
become their captives. Thefe venerable teachers, by the miracu- 
lous powers which they excrcifed, and by the fan^lity of their 
lives, became the inllruments of conA crting great numbers, and, 
in proccfs of time, of foftening and civilizing this rude and barba- 
rous people. 

' The origin of this clcnoiiiination is uncertain. Sec, however, fomc obfcrva- 
tions upon it in the Chriflian Obfcrvcr for May 1807, P- 282. 
" Eufeb. iiift. Eccl. lib. iv. cap. 19. p. 221. 

In 



14 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. In France, during the reign of the Emperor Decius^, and in the 
— midft of his perfecution, the Chriftian Churches, which had hi- 
France. thcrto been chiefly confined to the neighbourhood of Lyons and 
Vienne, were confiderably increafed. By the labours of many 
pious and zealous men, amongft whom Saturninus, the firft Bifhop 
of Touloufe, was particularly diftinguifhed. Churches were founded 
at Paris, Tours, Aries, Narbonne, and in feveral other places. 
From thefe fources, the knowledge of the Gofpel fpread in a fliort 
time through the whole country. In the courfe of this century, 
Chrillianity flouriflied in German}^, particularly in thofe parts of it 
which border upon France. Maternus, Clemens, and others, 
founded, in particular, the Churches of Cologne, Treves, and Metz. 
No pofitive account has been tranfmitted refpe6ling the progrefs 
In the Britifli of Chriftianity in the Britifh ifles during the third century. The 
hiftorians of Scotland contend, indeed, that the Gofpel then firfl 
vifited that country ; and there is reafon to believe that their ac- 
count may be true v. 



Caufes. In this century, ^lie clemency and mildnefs of feveral of the 

Roman emperors, and the encouragement which fome of them 
gave to Chriflianity, tended materially to augment its influ- 
ence ; and though the number of miracles was confiderably dimi- 
nifhed, fome extraordinary powers were flill continued to the 
Church. The piety and charity of the Chriftian difciples conti- 
nued alfo to excite the notice and admiration of the heathen ; and 
the zealous labours of Origen and others in the tranflation and 
difperfion of the New Teftament, and in the compofition of dif- 
ferent works in the defence and illuftration of Chriftianity, con- 

" A. D. 250. 

y See Uflier and Stilllngfleet, Antiq. et Orig. Eccl. Brit. 

tributed 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 15 



tributed to increafe the number of Chrillians, and to extend the cent. 
boundaries of the Church. '■ — 

Hitherto Chriftianity had been eftabhflied and propagated in the CENT. 

world, not only independently of all human contrivance and fup — — 

port, but in oppolition to every fpecies of worldly authoritv. 
During the long courfe of three hundred years, the Church had 
been expofed to the malice and power of its numerous and for- 
midable enemies. It had fuftained the fiery trial of ten perfecu- 
tions, and the various efforts which had been made to extinguifli 
or deprefs it. But, inftead of finking under the weight of thefe 
calamities, the numbers of the difciples were every where multi- 
plied, and the limits of Chriftianity were progreffively enlarged. 
Early, however, in the fourth century a different fcenc began to 
be prefented. About the year 312, Confi:antine the Great, having Converfion of 
defeated the tyrant Maxentius, granted to the Christians full liberty ^le' creat-^ 
to live according to their own inftitutions ; and loon afterwards 
himfelf embraced the Chrillian religion. Various rcafons might 
concur in producing this important event. The Chriflians were, 
at this period, the moll powerful, though not the mofi: numerous 
party. Arnobius ^, who wrote immediately before Conftantine's 
acceffion to the imperial throne, fpeaks of the whole world as 
filled with the doctrine of Chrift, of an innumerable body of Chrif- 
tians in dif^ant provinces, and of their progreflive increafe in all coun- 
tries. The evident tendency of Chriftianity to promote the (lability 
of government, by enforcing the obedience of the people, and the 
general practice of virtue, doubtlcfs, alio, contributed to increafe 
this favourable imprcfiion on the mind of Confiantine. And, 
what is more to his honour, it is probable, that, in procefs of time, 

* Arnob. in Gcntcs, lib. i. 

he 



i6 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, he acquired more extenlive views of the excellence and importance 
— — — of the Chriflian religion, and gradually arrived at an entire con- 
vi6lion of its divine origin. About the year 324, when, in confe- 
quence of the defeat and death of Licinius, he remained fole lord 
of the Roman empire, Conftantine openly avowed his oppolition 
Zeal of Con- to Paganifm. From that period, he earneftly exhorted all his fub- 
lome of his jcds to embrace the Gofpel ; and, at length, towards the clofe of 
lucceiiors. j^-g reign,' zcaloufly employed the refources of his genius, the au- 
thority of his laws, and the influence of his liberality, to complete 
the dellrudlion of the Pagan fuperftitions, and to eftablifh Chrifti- 
anity in every part of the empire. 

The fons of Conftantine imitated the zeal of their father, 
as did all his fucceffors in this century, with the exception of 
the apoftate Julian, w^hofe infidious attempts to reftore the rites 
of Paganifm occafioned a fhort interruption to the triumphant 
progrefs of Chriftianity. Thefe were, however, fpeedily counter- 
balanced by the renewed efforts of Jovian, and the fucceeding em- 
perors, to the time of Theodolius the Great ^. The a6livity and 
determination of this illuftrious prince were exerted in the moft 
etTe6i;ual manner, in the extirpation of Pagan idolatry and fuper- 
ftition, and in the eftablifhment and advancement of Chriftianity; fo 
that towards the clofe of this century the religion of the Gentiles 
feemed to be faft tending towards negledl and extinction The 
fevere edidls, and the violent means which were otherwife em- 
ployed to efted: this important purpofe, muft unqueftionably be 
condemned. But it muft be remembered, that Chriftianity cannot 
be juftly chargeable with the errors of its friends, and that the 

»A. D. 379. 

^ The language of St. Jerome ftrongly conveys this Idea. " Solitudinem pati- 
tur et In urbe gentilitas. Dii quondam nationum, cum bubonibus et no£tuis, in 
"folis culminibus remanferunt." Jer. ad Left. Ep. 57. 

wife 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



17 



wife and tolerant maxims which are now fo generally acknow- cent. 

1-edged, were not then fufficiently known, or were erroneously '■ — 

deemed inapplicable to the grofs fuperftition of the Gentiles. But 
if fuch were the zeal of Conftantine and his fucceflbrs in the caufe 
of Chriftianity, we cannot be furprifed at its fuccefsful extenlion 
amongft many barbarous and uncivilized nations. 

During this century, the province of Armenia, which had pro- Progrefs of 
bably been, in fome meafure, vifited with the light of Chriftianity hi' Amienla. 
at its firft rife, became completely illuminated. This change was 
chiefly produced by the labours of Gregory, commonly called the 
Enlightener. In Perfia alfo, which is fuppofed to have contained Perfia. 
many Chriftians even in the firll and fecond centuries, the Gofpel 
was during the prefent more extenfively propagated. 

Towards the middle of this century Frumentius, an inhabitant Abyffinia. 
of Egypt, carried the knowledge of Chriftianity to a people of 
Ethiopia, or Abyflinia, whofe capital was Auxumis. He baptized 
their king, together with feveral perfons of the higheft rank in his 
court; and, returning into Egypt, was confecrated by St. Athana- 
fius the firft Bifliop of that country, where he afterwards preached 
with great fuccefs. The Church thus founded in Abyflinia con- 
tinues to this day, and ftill confiders herfelf as a daughter of Alex- 
andria. 



Chriftianity was introduced into the province of Ilxrria, between Iberia, 
the Euxine and the Cafpian feas, now called Georgia, by means of 
a female captive, during the reign of Conftantine, whofe pious 



* A.D. 333. 

D 



and. 



18 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



c E N T. and, as it is afferted'', miraculous endowments fo deeply imprelTed 
— — — the king and queen, that they abandoned idolatry, and fent to 

Conftantinople for proper perfons to inftrudl them and their, fub- 

je6ts in the knowledge of the Chriftian religion. 

TheHomeri- Soon after the death of Conftantine, his fon Conftantius fent an 
embally to a people called Homeritie, fuppofed to have been the 
ancient Sabaeans, and the pofterity of Abraham by Keturah, 
dwelling in Arabia Felix. One of the principal ambailadors was 
Theophilus, an Indian, who in his youth had been fent as an 
hoftage to Conftantine from the inhabitants of the ifland Diu, and 
fettling at Rome led a monaftic life, and obtained great reputation 
for fandiity. By this miffionary the Gofpel was preached to the 
Homeritce ; the king and many of the people were converted, and 
Chriftianity was eftabliflied in their country. After this, Theophi- 
lus went to Diu, and in his way palfed through many regions of 
India, where the Gofpel was already received, and where he re6li-, 
fied fome irregularities in prad;ice. Both Theophilus, however, 
and thefe Indian Chriftians, were Arians *. 

Among the During the reign of the Emperor Yalens, a large body of the 
Goths, who had remained attached to their ancient fuperftitions, 
notwithftanding the previous converlion of fome of their country- 
men, were permitted by that prince to pafs the Danube, and to 
inhabit Dacia, Moefia, and Thrace, on condition of living fubjed; 
to the Roman laws, and of embracing Chriftianity : this condi- 
tion was accordingly accepted by their king Fritigem. The cele- 

^ By Rufinus, and after him by Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret. See Jortin, 
Eccl. Remarks, vol. ii. 73. 
* Jortin, vol. jj. 

brated 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



19 



brated Ulphilas, Bifhop of thofe Goths who dwelt in Mosfia, con- CENT. 

IV 

tributed greatly to their improvement, by tranjlating the four '- — 

Gofpels into the Gothic language. 

Notwithftanding the utmoft efforts of the Chriftian Biffiops in 
the European provinces of the empire, great numbers of Pagans 
flill remained. In Gaul, however, the labours of the venerable lu Gaul. 
Martin of Tours were fo fuccefsful in the deftruclion of idolatry 
and fuperftition, and the propagation of Chrittianity, that he juftly 
acquired the honourable title of the Apojile of the Gauls. 

The authority and the examples of Conftantine and his imperial Caufes. 
fuccefTors probably tended greatly to the progrefs of the Chriftian 
religion during this century. But it is, at the fame time, undeni- 
able, that the indefatigable zeal of the Bijhops, and other pious 
men, the fandity of their lives, the intrirific excellence of Chrifli- 
anity, the various tranflations of the facred writings, and the fu- 
pernatural powers which, though greatly diminiflied, probably 
Hill exifted, in fome meafure, in the Church, muft be allowed to 
have moft materially contributed to this extraordinary fuccefs^. 

At the beginning of the fffh century the Roman empire was cent. 

divided into two dillind; fovereignties, under the dominion of Ar- — — 

cadius in the Eait, and of Honorius in the Weft. The confufions 
and calamities which about this period attended the incurfions of 
the Goths, the temporary polTeHion of Italy by Odoacer, and the 
fubfequent eftablifhment of the kingdom of the Oftrogoths, were 
undoubtedly prejudicial to the progrefs of Chriftianity. 

The zeal of the Chritlian emperors, more efpccially of thofe who Progrefs of 

Chrilli;uiily. 

f See note D. 

D 2 reigned 



20 BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

CENT, reigned in the Eaft, was, notwithftanding, fuccefsfully exerted in 
. Y.: — extirpating the remains of the Gentile fuperftitions, and the 
Church continued daily to gain ground on the idolatrous nations 
in the empire. In the Eaft, the inhabitants of Mount Libanus 
and Antilibanus were induced, by the perfuaiions of Simeon the 
Stylite, to embrace the Chriftian religion. By his influence, alfb, 
it was introduced into a certain diftri6l of the Arabians. 

Indians on About the middle of this century, the Indians on the coaft of 
Malabar. "^^ Malabar were converted to Chriftianity by the Syrian Mar-Tho- 
mas, a Neftorian, who has been confounded by the Portuguefe 
with the Apoftle St. Thomas ^. Some ecclefiallical writers, in- 
deed, place the arrival of this millionary in India during the 
Jeventk century. But it is, perhaps, more correal to refer this lat- 
ter event to the confirmation of the Church already in a flourifli- 
ing ftate, by the labours of two other Syrians, Mar-Sapor and 
Mar-Perofis, during that century^. To thefe inftances of the pro- 
grefs of Chriilianity in the Eaft, may be added the converfion of a 
conliderable number of Jews in the ifland of Crete, who had been 
previoufly deceived by the pretenfions of the impoftor Mofes Cre- 
German na- tenfis. In the Weft, the German nations, who had deftroyed that 
divifton of the empire, gradually embraced the religion of the con- 
quered people. Some of them had been converted to the Chriftian 
faith before their incurfions upon the empire ; and fuch, amongft 
others, was the cafe of the Goths. It is, however, uncertain at 
what time, and by whofe labours, the Vandals, Sueves, and Alans 



8 See Afiatlc Refearches, vol. vii. Account of the St. Thome Chriftians on the 
coaft of Malabar, by F. Wiede, Efcj. Thefe Chriftians will again be noticed in a 
fubfequent part of this work. 
See note E. 

were 



tions. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



2i 



were evangelized. The Burgundians, who inhabited the banks of C E^NT. 

the Rhine, and who pafled from thence into Gaul, received the 

Gofpel, hoping to be preferved by its divine Author from the ra- 
vages of the Huns. And, in general, thefe fierce and barbarous 
nations were induced to embrace the Chriftian religion by the de- 
fire of living in greater fecurity amidll a people who, for the moll 
part, profelTed it ; and from a perfuafion that the dodlrine of the 
majority muft be the beft. 

It was on fimilar principles that Clovis, king of the Salii, a na- The Franks, 
tion of the Franks, whofe kingdom he founded in Gaul, became a 
convert to Chriftianity, after a battle with the Alemanni in the 
year 496, in which he had implored the affiftance of Chrift. This 
prince, proving viclorious, was baptized at Rheims by Remigius, 
Bifliop of that city ; and the example of the king was immediately 
followed by the baptifm of three thoufand of his fubjccls. It is 
fcarcely neccflary to obferve, that there was probably but little of 
conviction or fmcerity in either. In Britain, Chrillianity was al- 
moft extinguiflied by the predatory incurfions of the Scots and 
Pidls, and, afterwards, by the perfccutions of the Saxons. The 
Chriftian faith was, however, planted in Ireland by Palladius, and Ireland, 
after him by Succathus, an inhabitant of Scotland, whofe name 
was changed to Patrick by Celeftine the Roman Pontiff, from 
whom both thefe mifTions had proceeded. The latter of thefe 
pious and zealous preachers, who has been llylcd the Apojilc of the 
Irijh, arrived in Ireland in the year 432, and was fo fuccefsful in 
his labours, that great numbers of the barbarous natives were con- 
verted to Chrirtianity ; and in the year 472, he founded the Arch- 
bifhopric of Armagh. 



The Jixth ccntimj was diftinguilhed by fomc further advances 

of 



12 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, of Chriftianity both in the Eaft and Weft. The Bifliops of Con- 
'■ ftantinople, under the influence and prote6lion of the Grecian em- 
perors, fucceeded in converting fome barbarous nations, inhabiting 
The Abafgi the coafts of the Euxine fea, amongft whom were the Abafgi, 
tions? ^'^"^ whofe country lay between the fhores of that fea and Mount Cau- 
cafus. The Heruh, who dwelt beyond the Danube, the Alani, 
Lani, and Zani, together with other uncivilized nations whofe 
precife lituation cannot now be accurately afcertained, were con- 
verted about the fame time, during the reign of Juftinian. In the 
Weft, Remigius, Bifhop of Rheims, was remarkably fuccefsful in 
Gaul, where the example of Clovis continued to be followed by 
great numbers of his fubjeds. 

Britain, Britain, the progrefs of Chriftianity was accelerated during 

this century by feveral favourable circumftances. By the pious 
efforts of Bertha, wife of Ethelbert, king of Kent, one of the moft 
confiderable of the Saxon monarchs, the mind of the king became 
gradually well difpofed towards the Chriftian religion. At this 
aufjpicious period, A. D. 596, the Roman Pontifi^, Gregory the 
Great, fent into Britain forty Benedi6line monks, at the head of 
whom he placed Auguftin, prior of the monaftery of St. Andrew 
at Rome. In conjunction with the queen, this zealous miffionary 
fucceeded in converting Ethelbert, together with the greater part 
of the inhabitants of Kent, and laid anew the foundations of the 
Britifli Church. 

In Scotland, the labours of Columban, an Irilh monk, were at- 
tended with fuccefs ; and in Germany, the Bohemians, the Thu- 
ringians, and the Boii, are laid to have abandoned their ancient 
fuperftitions, and to have embraced the Chriftian religion. But 
this is a fad, which is by no means undifputed. 

Italy 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 23 



. Italy about the middle of this century fuftained an entire revo- cent. 

lution, by the deftruclion of the kingdom of the Oftrogoths under '■ — 

Narfes, the general of Juftinian. But the imperial authority was 
again overthrown two years afterwards by the Lombards, who, 
with feveral other German nations, illiied from Pannonia, and 
eredled a new kingdom at Ticinum. During feveral years, the 
Chriftians in Italy were feverely perfecuted by thefe new invaders. 
But in the year 587, Authafis, the third monarch of the Lom- 
bards, embraced Chriflianity as profefled by the Arians, and his 
fucceflbr Agilulf adopted the tenets of the Nicene Catholics. 

The caufe, which principally contributed to the converfion of Caufes. 
fo many barbarous nations, was unqueftionably the authority of 
their princes, rather than the force of argument or convidiion. 
This appears from the little effedl which was produced by the 
change of their religion on the conduft of the barbarians. It 
muft, indeed, be confefled, that the knowledge which they at firfl 
obtained of the dodlrinc of Chrift was extremely fuperficial and 
imperfedl. In fome it may, perhaps, reafonably be prefumed, that 
the principles of Chriftianity were more deeply rooted, and were 
produclive of falutary efFecls. But it is to be feared, that the ma- 
jority were Chrillians only in name. It fliould, however, at the 
fame time be remembered, that even their flight acquaintance 
with our holy religion was produclive of fome beneficial change, 
and that a foundation was laid in their nominal fubjed;ion to 
Chriftianity for their gradual civilization, and moral improve- 
ment. 

In the next century, Chriftianity was propagated with much CENT, 
zeal and fucccfs by the Ncflorians, who dwelt in Syria, Perlia, and — Xil — 
India, among the fierce and barbarous nations who lived in the 

remotell 



9,4 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, remoteft borders and deferts of Afia. Bj the labours of this left, 
the knowledge of the Gofpel was, about the year 637, extended to 



Chi-iftianity the remote empire of China, the northern parts of which are faid 
|"to°chiiia. to have abounded with Chriflians before this century 

Progrefs in In the Weft, Auguftin laboured to enlarge the boundaries of 
Britain, ^^^^ Church ; and by his efforts, and thofe of his brethren, the fix 
Anglo-Saxon kings, who had hitherto remained in their Pagan 
ftate, were converted, and Chriftianity was at length univerfally 
embraced throughout Britain. Many of the Britith, Scotch, and 
Irifli ecclefiaftics travelled among the Batavian, Belgic, and Ger- 
in Germany man nations, and propagated Chriftianity among them. In thefe 
^^f^j^^^''^'^^^" labours, Columban, an Irilli monk, St. Gal, one of his compa- 
nions, St. Kilian, from Scotland, and the celebrated Willebrod, an 
Anglo-Saxon, with eleven of his countrymen, particularly diftin- 
guiftied themfelves ; Columban, among the Suevi, the Boii, the 
Franks, and other German nations ; St. Gal, among the Helvetii, 
in the neighbourhood of the lakes of Zurich and Conftance ; St, 
Kilian, among the eaftern Franks near Wurtfburg ; and Wille- 
brod, among the Frieflanders, great numbers of whom embraced 
the Chriftian faith, in confequence of the pious exertions of thefe 
laborious miflionaries. Willebrod was ordained Biftiop of Wxlfe- 
burg, now Utrecht, by the Roman Prelate, and laboured in his 
diocefe till his death ; while his aflbciates Ipread the light of di^ 
vine truth through Weftphalia and the neighbouring countries. 
During this century, according to fome authors, Bavaria received 
the Gofpel, by the miniftry of Robert, Biftiop of Worms. 

* In proof of this affection, MoHieim and his learned tranflator refer to various 
authors. 



But 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 15 



But amidfl thefe numerous accelTions to the Chriltian Church c E N l 
- • VI r 

in the Weft, a formidable enemy fuddenly appeared in the Eaft, 



by whofe fuccefsful tyranny Chriftianity began to be deprefled, of Moham- 
and at length became totally extinguiftied in feveral of its moft ex- 
tenfive provinces. This was the celebrated Arabian impollor, Mo- 
hammed ; who about the year 6l2, amidft the corruptions and 
diflenfions of the Eaftern Church, undertook the bold projed; of 
fubverting the Chriftian religion and the Roman power ; and 
who within the fpace of twenty years actually fucceeded, by arti- 
fice, and by the force of arms, in impoling both his do6lrine and 
his authority on multitudes in Arabia and feveral adjacent coun- 
tries. After the death of Mohammed, in the year 632, his fol- Progrefs of 
lowers, animated by a fpirit of fanatical zeal and fury, and affifted'^'" 
by the Neftorian Chriftians, extended their conquefts to Perlia, 
Mefopotamia, Chaldaea, Syria, Paleftine, Egypt, and the whole ex- 
tent of the northern coaft of Africa, as far as the Atlantic ocean. 
In the year 714^, the Saracens crofled the fea which feparates 
Spain from Africa, defeated the army of the Spanifli Goths, over- 
turned the empire of the Vifigoths, and took pofl'eflion of all the 
maritime coafts of Gaul, from the Pyrenean mountains to the 
Rhone ; whence they made frequent incurfions, and committed 
the moft deftruclive ravages in the neighbouring countries. The 
rapid progrefs of thefe formidable invaders was, at length, checked 
by the celebrated Charles Martel, who gained a fignal victory over 
them near Tours, in the year 732. During thefe dettru6tive in- 
curfions of the Saracens, Chriftianity, in thofe countries which 
were the feat of their devartations, was neceflarily obftructed in 
its progrefs, and in fome places it was even altogether cxtir- 

To avoid breaking the tlircad of tlic narration, tlie Author has here purfued 
the hiftory of the Saracenic conquefts through the following century. 

E pated. 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, pated. Thefe, however, were not the only calamities which the 
— Church fuffered during thefe difaftrous times. About the middle 



The Turks, of the eighth century, the Turks, the defcendants of a tribe of 
Tartars, rufhed from the inaccellible wilds of Mount Caucafus, 
overran Colchis, Iberia, and Albania, purfued their rapid courfe 
from thence into Armenia, and, after having fubdued the Sara- 
cens, turned their victorious arms againfl the Greeks ; whom, in 
procefs of time, thej reduced under their dominion. During the 
laft twenty years of this century, the provinces of Alia Minor, 
which had been the fplendid fcene of the firil Chrirtian triumphs, 
were ravaged by the impious arms of the Caliphs, and the inha- 
bitants oppreffed in the moll barbarous manner. 

>» 

CENT. While, however, the fuccefs of the Mohammedan arms was 
— HIL_ thus fubjeCling fo large a part of the Eaftern empire, and obfcur- 



ing, as far as their influence extended, the glory of the Chriftian 
Church, the Neftorians of Chaldaea carried the faith of the Gofpel, 
Progrefs of fuch as they profefled, to the Scythians, or Tartars, who were 

Chriflianity . . , 

in Tartary. icatcd withm the Imiits OT Mount imaus '. 

In Europe, feveral unenlightened nations were, during the 
eighth century, brought to the knowledge of Chriflianity. The 
In Germany. Germans, who, with the exception of the Bavarians, the Eaft 
Frieflanders, and a few other nations, had hitherto refilled every 
attempt to inllru6t them, were at length converted to the 
faith of Chrift, by Winfrid, an Englifh Benediftine monk, and 
afterwards known by the name of Boniface. By the indefa- 
tigable exertions of this celebrated miffionary, the Chriftian re- 

' This expreffion comprehends Turkiftan and Mongul, the Ufbeck, Kalmuck, 
and Nagaian Tartary, which were peopled by the Baftrians, Sogdians, Gandarl, 



Sacse, and Maflagetes. 



ligion 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



27 



ligion was fuccefsfully propagated throughout Friefland, Hefle, CENT. 

Thuringia, and other dittricts of Germany. During the fame pe- '— 

riod, Corhinian, a French BenediAine monk, laboured afTiduoufly 
amongft the Bavarians, Rumold, a native either of England or 
Ireland, travelled into Lower Germany and Brabant, and dilFufed 
the truths of Chriftianity in the neighbourhood of Mechlin. Fir- 
min, a Gaul by birth, preached in Alface, Bavaria, and Switzer- 
land. Liefuvyn, a Briton, laboured with the moft ardent zeal, 
though with but little fuccefs, to convert the Belgae and other 
neighbouring nations ; whilft Willebrod, and others, perfevered in 
the work which they had fo happily begun in the preceding cen- 
turs'. To the account of the accelTions to the Chriftian Church 
during this century, mutt finally be added the converfion of the 
Saxons, a numerous and formidable people, who inhabited a con- 
liderable part of Germany, and of the Huns in Pannonia, by the 
warlike zeal of Charlemagne. The violent methods, which were 
ufed by this great prince for the accomplifliment of his defign, 
deftroy both the merit and genuinenefs of his fuccefs, although 
the ultimate cflbcl of it undoubtedly tended to the propagation of 
Chriftianitv. 

We are now advancing into thofe dark and fuperftitious ages, cent. 



in which the light of Chrillianity could fcarcely be diliinguiflied, 
even in the countries which already nominally poflefled it. About 
the middle, however, of the mnth century, Cyril and Methodius, Prngrefs of 
two Greek monks, were the inllruments of converting the Mce- ^mo,fg?Uhe 
fians, Bulgarians, and C'hazari, to the Chriftian faith. ''J'heir la- 
hours were aflerv\ ards extended to the J5ohemians and Moravians, Boliemians, 
at the requeft of the princes of thofe nations, who, with many of 
their fubjcds, fubmitted to the rite of baptifm. 

E 2 About 



28 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. About the year 867, under the reign of the Emperor Bafilius 
'• — the Macedonian, the Sclavonians, Arentani, and others, inhabit- 
In Dalmatia. ants of Dalmatia, fent an embafly to Conftantinople, declaring 
their refolution of fubmitting to the Grecian empire, and of em- 
bracing the Chriftian religion ; and requefling to be fupplied with 
fuitable teachers. Their requeft was granted, and thofe provinces 
were included within the pale of the Church. 

In Ruflia. The fierce and barbarous nation of the Ruffians, inhabitants of 
the Ukraine, embraced the Gofpel under the reign of the fame 
emperor. The obfervations, however, which were made at the 
clofe of the lixth century, refpedling the nature of fuch conver- 
fions as have beerj jufl; related, muft conftantly be borne in mind. 
In the cafe of numbers of individuals, the profeffion of Chriflianity 
was, no doubt, fincere ; but as to the great body of the people, it 
was probably merely formal. 

In the courfe of this century , Chriftianity began to be preached 
in the frozen regions of Scandinavia and on the lliores of the 
Baltic, which had hitherto been involved in the grolfefl: Pagan 
Jutland. darknefs. In the year 826, Harold, king of Jutland, being ex- 
pelled from his dominions, implored the protection of the Empe- 
ror Lewis, the fon and fucceflbr of Charlemagne. That prince 
promifed him his affiftance, on condition that he would embrace 
Chriftianity, and permit the minifters of that religion to preach in 
his dominions. To this the Danifli prince confented. He was ac- 
cordingly baptized, and returned to his own country, attended by 
two eminently pious ecclefiaftics, Aufcarius and Aubert, monks of 

™ This term commonly includes the three kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark, and 
Norway. 

Corbie. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



Corbie. Thefe venerable miflionaries laboured with remarkable c t. 

fuccefs during two years, in converting the rude inhabitants of 

Cimbria and Jutland. On the death of his companion, the zealous 
and indefatigable Aufcarius went into Sweden, A. D. 828 ; where Sweden, 
his exertions were alfo crowned with fuccefs. After having been 
raifed, in the year 831, to the Archbifliopric of Hamburgh, and of 
the whole North, to which charge the fuperintendance of the 
Church of Bremen was afterwards added, this admirable Chriftian 
miflionarj fpent the remainder of his life in travelling frequently 
amonglt the Danes, Cimbrians, and Swedes, to form new Churches, 
to confirm and ellablilh thofe which had been already planted, 
and otherwife to promote the caufe of Chriftianity. He continued 
in the midft of thefe arduous and dangerous enterprifes till his 
death in the }'ear 865. Rembert, his fuccellbr in the fuperintend- 
ance of the Church of Bremen, began, towards the clofe of this 
century, to preach to the inhabitants of Brandenburgh, and made 
fome progrefs towards their converlion. 

Whilll thefe acceflions to the Chriltian Church were making in Progrefs of 
the north of Europe, the Saracens, who were already mailers of Saracen*, 
nearly the whole of Alia, extended their conquefts to the extre- 
mities of India, and fubjeded the greatetl part of Africa, as then 
known, to their dominion. Sardinia alfo, and Sicily, fubmitted to 
their yoke ; and towards the conclufion of the century, tliey 
fpread terror even to the very gates of Rome. Thefe defolating 
incurfions not only obllrucled the propagation of Chrillianity, but 
produced in great numbers of Chriltians a deplorable apollafy from 
the faith. 



mans. 



The European Chriftians fuffered almoft equally from the ra-ThcNor- 
vages of the Pagan Normans from the coalls of the Baltic ; who 

not 



30 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, not only infefted the fhores and illands of the German ocean, but 

IX • 
'■ — at length broke into Germany, Britain, Friefland, Gaul, Spain, and 



Italy, and forcibly feated themfelves in various provinces of thofe 
kingdoms. By degrees, however, thefe favage invaders became 
civilized by their fettlement among Chriftian nations, and were 
gradually perfuaded to embrace the religion of the Gofpel. 

CENT. In the tenth century, the Chriftian Church prefented a deplor- 



X. 



able fcene of ignorance, fuperftition, and immorality. Amidft the 
darknefs, however, which univerfally prevailed, fome rays of light 
occafionally appear. The Neftorians of Chaldaea, whofe zeal, not- 
withftanding their errors, is deferving of commendation, extended 
Progrefs in the knowledge of Chrillianity beyond Mount Imaus, to Tartary, 
artary. properly fo Called, whofe inhabitants had hitherto remained igno- 
rant and uncivilized. The fame fuccefsful miffionaries afterwards 
introduced it amongfl: the powerful nation of the Turks, or Tar- 
tars, which was denominated Karit, and bordered on the northern 
part of China. The Hungarians and Avari had received fome im- 
perfect ideas of Chrillianity during the reign of Charlemagne; but, 
on his deceafe, they relapfed into idolatry, and the Chriftian reli- 
gion was almoft extinguilhed amongft them. 

On thebanks Towards the middle of this century, two Turkifh chiefs, Bolo- 
nube. gudes and Gylas, whofe territories lay on the banks of the Da- 
nube, made a public profeffion of Chriftianity, and were baptized 
at Conftantinople. Of thefe the former foon apotlatized ; the 
other fteadily perfevered, received inftru6lion from Hierotheus, a 
Biftiop who had accompanied him from Conftantinople, and en- 
couraged the labours of that Bifliop amongft his fubjedls. Sarolta, 
In Hungaiy. the daughter of Gylas, being afterwards married to Gey fa, the 
chief of the Hungarian nation, he was by her perfuaded to em- 
brace 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



31 



brace Chriltianitj. Geyfa, however, ftill retained a predilec- c EN T. 

tion for his ancient fuperflitions, and was only prevented from 

apollatizing bj the zeal and authority of Adalbert, Archbilhop of 
Prague, who vifited Hungary towards the conclulion of this cen- 
tury. But however imperfect might be the convcrfion of the 
king, the moft falutary confequences followed the reception of the 
Gofpel by his fubjecls. Humanity, peace, and civilization, began 
to flourith amongft a fierce and barbarous people ; and under the 
patronage of Stephen, the fon of Geyfa, Chriftianity became com- 
pletely eftablillied in Hungary. 

The inhabitants of Poland were, during this century, blelTed Poland, 
with the knowledge of Chriftianity. Some Poles, travelling into 
Bohemia and Moravia, were flruck with the preaching of the 
Gofpel, and, on their return, earnetlly recommended it to the at- 
tention of their countrymen. The report at length reaching the 
ears of Miciflaus, the Duke of Poland, he was induced to divorce 
his feven wives, and married Dambrouca, the daughter of Bolef- 
laus, Duke of Bohemia. He was baptized in the year 965, and, 
by the zealous efforts of the Duke and Duchefs, their fubje(^ls were 
either perfuadcd or obliged, l^^ degrees, to abandon their idolatrv, 
and to profefs the religion of Chriil:. 

The converfions which had taken place in Rulfia (hiring the Progiefs in 
preceding century were neither fmcerc nor permanent. r)ut Jq^^"'^''*- 
the year 9G1, Wolodomir, having married Ainic, filler of the 
Greek Emperor ijafilius the Second, was prevailed upon by tliat 
princcfs to receive the Chriflian faith. He was accordingly bap- 
tized in the year 987. The Rullians followed, w ithout compul- 
fion or rcluclancc, the example of their prince ; and from that 

time 



32 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, time Ruffia received a Chriftian eftablilhment, and confidered her- 
— — '— felf as a daughter of the Greek Church. 

In Scandina- If we turn our attention towards Scandinavia, we find, that 
Chrillianitj, which had been fo fuccefsfuUy introduced during the 
preceding century, had met with a fevere check in Denmark un- 
der the reign of Gormo the Third, who laboured to extirpate it 
entirely. At length, however, he was compelled by Henry the 
Firft, called the Fowler, the predecelTor of Otho the Great, to per- 
mit the profeflion and propagation of Chriftianity in his domi- 
nions; and under the protection of the Emperor, Unni, then Arch- 
bifhop of Hamburgh, with fome other ecclefiaftics, came into 
Denmark, and formed many Chriftian Churches in that kingdom. 
On the death of Gormo, his fucceflbr Harold, being defeated by 
Otho the Great, A. D. 949, by the command of his conqueror, 
though not unwillingly, embraced the Gofpel, and zealoufly fup- 
ported and propagated it amongft his fubje6ls during his reign. 
Suen-Otho, however, his fon and fucceffor, entirely renounced the 
Chriftian name, and perfecuted his Chriftian fubjedts in the moft 
cruel manner. At length, being driven from his throne, and 
forced into exile amongfi: the Scot§, he w^as led to re£le6l on his 
Chriftian education, and to repent of his apoftaty ; and being re- 
ftored to his kingdom, fpent the remainder of his life in the moft 
lincere and earneft endeavours to promote the caufe of Chriftianity 
in his dominions. In Sweden, an almoft entire extindlion of the 
Gofpel had taken place. Unni, animated by his fuccefs in Den- 
mark, determined therefore on attempting a revival of it in that 
country. His pious exertions were rendered profperous, and he 
had the happinefs of confirming the Gofpel in Sweden, and of 
planting it even in the remoter parts of that northern region. 

It 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



33 



It was during this century that Norway firft received the Chrif- CENT. 

tian faith. Several attempts were previoufly made in the early '■ — 

part of it, which were altogether unfuccefsful. The barba- 
rous Norwegians refifted both the exhortations of the Englifh 
miffionaries, and the more forcible endeavours of their princes, 
to convert them from their idolatry, till the year 945 ; when 
Haco, King of Norway, who had been driven from his throne, 
was reftored by Harold, King of Denmark ; and having been 
converted by that prince during his exile, publicly recom- 
mended Chriftianity to his fubjects. The imprefllon, however, 
which was thus made upon their minds, was but flight ; nor were 
they entirely perfuaded to become Chriftians till the reign of his 
fucceflbr Olaus. At length Swein, King of Denmark, having con- 
quered Norway, obliged his fubje6ls univerfally to renounce ido- 
latry, and to profefs the Gofpel. Amongft the miffionaries whofe 
labours were rendered fuccefsful in this work, Guthebald, an 
Englifli priell, was the moft eminent both in merit and authority. 
From Norway, the falutary light of Chriftianity fpread into the 
Orkney illands, which were then fubjed; to that country, and pe- 
netrated, in fome degree, even into the remote regions of Iceland 
and Greenland. So that in this century the triumph of Chrilli- 
anity was complete throughout Scandinavia. 

In Germany, the exertions of the Emperor Otho contributed, in I" Germany, 
a fignal manner, to promote the interells of Chrillianity, and to 
crtablifli it on the moll firm foundations throughout the empire. 
At the earnefl rcquell of the Rugi,a remarkably barbarous people, 
who inhabited the country of Pomerania, between the Oder and 
the Wipper, and the ifle of Riigen in the Baltic, that zealous 
prince fcnt Adalbert amongll them, to revive the knowledge of 
Chrillianity, which had formerly exilled, but was then cxtin- 

F guiflied. 



34 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



The Sara- 
cens, 



Normans. 



CENT. 
XI. 

Progrefs in 
Tartary. 



guilhed. The miffion, however, was iinfuccefsful. But Adalbert, 
being afterwards appointed the firft Archbifliop of Magdeburgh, 
was fuccefsful in converting great numbers of the Sclavonians. 



In the north 
of Europe. 



Throughout this century, the Saracens in Atia and Africa fuc- 
cefsfullj propagated the dodrines of Mohammed, and multitudes 
even of Chrillians were the victims of their delufions. The Turks, 
alfo, received the religion of the Arabian irapoftor ; and, turning 
their arms againfl the Saracens, began to lay the foundations of 
that powerful empire which they afterwards eftablifhed. 

In the Weft, Chriftianity was perfecuted by the barbarous ef- 
forts of the unconverted Normans, Sarmatians, Sclavonians, Bohe- 
mians, and Hungarians ; while the Arabs in Spain, Italy, and the 
neighbouring iflands, opprefled and plundered its followers. 

The zeal of the Neftorian Chriftians continued to be confpicuous 
in the eleventh century. In Tartary and the adjacent countries 
they fucceeded in converting great numbers to the profeffion of 
Chriftianity. In the provinces of Cafgar, Nuacheta, Turkiftan, 
Genda, and Tangut, metropolitan prelates, with many inferior 
biftiops, were eftabliflied ; from which it evidently appears, that 
Chriftianity muft have flourithed to a confiderable extent in thofe 
countries which are now the feat of Mohammedifm and idolatry. 

The light which had been diftiifed during the preceding centu- 
ries amongft the Hungarians, Danes, Poles, and Ruftians, was con- 
ftderably increafed and extended during the prefent by the zealous 
endeavours of their princes, and of the miflionaries who laboured 
amongft them. An inefte^lual attempt was made to convert the 
Sclavonians as a nation, (great numbers of individuals having emr 

braced 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 35 



braced Chriftianity during the preceding century,) the Obotriti, CENT, 
whofe capital was Mecklenburg, the Venedi, who dwelt on the — ~ — 
banks of the Viftula, and the Pruffians. But thefe barbarous na- 
tions continued, in a great meafure. Pagan throughout this cen- 
tury. Boleflaus, King of Poland, attempted to force his fubjecfts 
into a profeffion of Chriftianity, and fome of his attendants ufed 
the more evangelical methods of admonition and inftrudlion. In 
a benevolent undertaking, however, of this kind, Boniface and 
eighteen other perfons were barbaroufly maflacred by this fierce 
and intractable people. The Pruffians, indeed, feem to have been 
among the lall of the European nations who fubmitted to the 
yoke of Chrilliianity. In Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Nor- 
way, the labours of Englith miffionaries were particularly diftin- 
guiflied in this century. 

Chriftianity had now been preached during three centuries in EfFeds of 
Scandinavia, and the efFecls which it produced on the manners of ii/^e Nordi. 
the rough and uncultivated inhabitants of thofe northern regions 
were in the highell degree beneficial. " That reftlcfs people," Mr. 
Ilume obferves, " feem about this time to have learned the ufe of 
" tillage ; which thenceforth kept them at home, and freed the 
" other nations of Europe from the devafliations fpread over them 
" by thofe piratical invaders. This proved one great caufe of the 
** fettlcment and improvement of the fouthern nations "." This 
obfervation of the celebrated hifi:orian reprefents, with his ufual 
perfpicuitv, the advantages which refulted from the civilization of 
the North, but it is filent as to the true cauje of that important 
change. To the propagation of Chrijlianity it muft uncjuellion- 



■ Ilumc, vol. i. chap. 5. 
F 2 



36 



BRIEF HISTORTC VIEW 



CENT, ably be chiefly referred. It was the influence of this divine reli- 
— — — gion which gradually foftened the manners of thofe barbarous na- 
tions, induced them to abandon their former piratical habits, and 
to cultivate the arts of induftry and peace. Chriftianity, be it re- 
membered, while it conveys to individuals the mofl; important 
knowledge, and imparts to them the richefl: bleflings, difFufes the 
falutary precepts of order, tranquillity, and happinefs, throughout 
fociety and the world at large. 

During this century, the ifland of Sicily was recovered from the 
Saracens. But in part of Alia, and in Spain, the Chriftians were 
feverely opprefl^ed both by the Saracens and the Turks ; great 
numbers were, in the mean time, feduced by flatteries and delu- 
iive offers into apofl;afy from the faith. In Hungary, Denmark, 
the lower parts of Germany, and in other European nations, the 
Chriftians were, alfo, much harafl^ed and perfecuted by the idola- 
trous Pagans ; whofe violence was, however, at length eflec- 
tually reftrained by the powerful interference of the Chriflian 
princes. 

The Cm- It was at the clofe of this century ° that the firfl: of thofe ro- 
fades. mantic expeditions, difl:inguiflied by the name of Crufades, was 
undertaken. Whatever motives of a religious nature might have 
actuated their promoters, there can be no hefitation in determin- 
ing, that they contributed neither to the fupport nor advance- 
ment of Chriftianity. ''Non tali auxilio, nec defenforibus iflis — " 
But the conlideration of thefe enthuflaftic undertakings belongs 
not to our prefent fubje6l. 



A. D. 1096. 

The 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



37 



The propagation of the Gofpel was fuccefsfully continued in c E N T. 

the twelfth century, chiefly in the north of Europe. Boleflaus, ^— 

Duke of Poland, having taken Stetin, the capital of Pomerania, by ^[e^orth'of 
ftorm, and laid wafle the furrounding country, compelled the van- Europe, 
quifhed inhabitants to fubmit at difcretion ; and impofed upon 
them, as a condition of peace, their reception of Chriltianity. The 
conqueror fent Otho, Bifliop of Bamberg, in the year 1 124, to in- 
ftrucl his new fubjed:s in the dod:rines of the Gofpel. Many of 
them, among whom were the Duke and Duchefs, and their at- 
tendants, were converted by his exhortations ; but great numbers 
of the idolatrous Pomeranians refitted his utmoft efforts, and obtli- 
nately adhered to the fuperftitions of their anceflors. In a fecond 
vifit in the year 1126, the venerable Bifliop was more fuccefsful, 
and Chriflianity was ellablithed in Pomerania on a folid founda- 
tion. 



In the year 1 168, Waldemar, King of Denmark, who was fore- 
moft among the northern princes of this century by his zeal 
in the propagation and advancement of Chrillianity, having fub- 
dued the ifland of Rugen, which lies in the neighbourhood of 
Pomerania, obliged its rude and piratical inhabitants to lillen to 
the inftruclions of the milTionaries who accompanied his army. 
Among thefe, Abfalom, Archbilhop of Lunden, a man of fnpcrior 
talents and virtue, was eminently diftinguiflied ; and by his ex- 
ertions, Chriftianity was firmly feated in this illand, which had 
hitherto baffled every attempt to enlighten it. 

The Finlanders, whofc charader refemblcd that of the inhabit- Finland, 
ants of Rugen, and who infefied Sweden with their predatory in- 
curfions, received the Gofpel in a fimilar manner. Eric, King of 
Sweden, having totally defeated thcle barbarians, fent Henry, 

Arch- 



38 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. 
XII. 



Archbifllop of Up fa], to evangelize them. His fuccefs was fo 
great, that he is called the Apojile of the Finlanders ; yet he was 
at length ailaffinated by fome of thefe refradlory people, on ac- 
count of a heavy penance which he had impofed on a perfon of 
great authority. 



Livonia. In Livonia, the propagation of Chriflianity was carried on to- 
wards the clofe of this century with a violence and cruelty alto- 
gether abhorrent from the mild and benevolent fpirit of our holy 
religion. The labours of Mainard, the firft miffionary who at- 
tempted the converfion of that barbarous people, having proved 
unfuccefsful, the Roman Pontiff, Urban the Third, who had con- 
fecrated him Biiliop of the Livonians, declared a crufade againll 
them, which was zealoufly carried on by that ecclefiaftic, and by 
his fucceflbrs, Berthold and Albert. Thefe warlike apoftles, at the 
head of great bodies of troops raifed in Saxony, fucceflively en- 
tered Livonia, and compelled the wretched inhabitants to receive 
Chriftian baptifm. 



The Sclavo- 
nians. 



The Sclavonians, notwithftanding fome partial converfions 
among them, had hitherto as a nation ftiewn a remarkable aver- 
lion to Chriftianity. This excited the zeal of the neighbouring 
princes, and of certain miffionaries, who united their efforts to 
conquer their prejudices, and to convert them to the Chriftian 
faith. The moll fuccefsful of thefe teachers was Yicelinus, a man 
of lingular learning and piety, who was, at length, appointed Bi- 
fhop of Oldenburg, which fee was afterwards transferred to Lu- 
bec. This excellent man fpent the lafl thirty years of his life 
in the inftru6lion of the Sclavonians, amidfl great difficulties 
and dangers ; and his benevolent labours were condu(fled with 
fo much wifdom, that they were attended with a fuccefs which 

could 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



39 



could fcarcelv have been expeded amongft that untradable cent. 
people. '■ — 

The revolution, which, at the beginning of this century, took Decline of 
place in Afiatic Tartary, on the borders of Cathay ^, by the fuc- Afia."'^^ 
cefsfiil enterprife of the celebrated Neilorian, Prefter John, proved 
for many years highly beneficial to the Chriftian caufe. Towards 
the clofe of it, however, the victorious arms of Genghis Khan 
overturned the kingdom which he had eftabliflied, and Chrilti- 
anity in confequence loll; much of its credit and authority. It 
continued gradually to decline, until at length it funk entirely 
under the weight of oppreffion ; and was fucceeded partly by the 
errors of Mohammedifm, and partly by the fuperftitions of Pa- 
ganifm. In Syria and Paleftine, the Chriftians were, during the 
whole of this century, engaged in contells with the Moham- 
medans. Scenes of perfecution and cruelty were exhibited on 
both fides, and Chriftianity fuffered almofi: equally from her ene- 
mies and her friends. 

Notwithftanding the victories of the fucceflbrs of Genghis c £ N T. 

^ • XIII 

Khan, by which they had fubdued a great part of Afia, and had 



involved in great calamities the Chriltian inhabitants of China, State of 
India, and Perfia, it appears from undoubted authorities that both ^' q')-,'!"'!^^^^ 
in China, and in the northern parts of Afia, the Neftorians conti- 1"^''^'"')'- 
nued to have a flourifliing Church, and a great number of ad- 
herents in the thirteenth century. Even in the court of tlie ]Mogul 
emperors there were many who profeflcd Chrifiianity ; but the 
enfnaring influence of the religion of jNIohammcd gradually un- 
dermined it, and left fcarcely a vcltige of Chrillianity amongll 



' Cathay was fituatcd on the north weft border of Chuia. 

them. 



40 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. them. In confeqiience of the incurfions which were made by the 

XIII . . 
Tartars into Europe in the year 1241, feveral embaflies were fent 

hy the Popes Innocent the Fourth and Nicholas the Third and 
Fourth, which were the means of converting many of the Tartars 
to the Chriftian faith, and of engaging confiderable numbers of 
the Neftorians to adopt the do6lrine and difcipline of the Church 
of Rome. Several Churches were alfo erected in different parts of 
China and Tartary ; and, in order to facihtate the propagation of 
Chriftianity, a tranflation was made by Johannes a Monte Corvino, 
the ambatlador of Nicholas the Fourth, of the New Teftament and 
the Pfalms, into the language of Tartary. The affairs, however, 
of the Chriflians in the Eaft during this century, in confequence 
of the conquefts of the Tartars, and of the unfortunate iifue of the 
feveral crufades which were undertaken in the courfe of it, and 
which were the Iq/l of thofe infatuated expeditions, were, upon 
the whole, in a very deplorable condition. The kingdom of Jeru- 
falem, which had been eftablifhed at the clofe of the eleventh cen- 
tury, being entirely overthrown, many of the Latins remained ftill 
in Syria, and retiring into the dark and folitary recelTes of Mount 
Libanus, lived there in a wild and favage manner, and gradually 
loft all traces both of religion and civilization. The defcendants 
of thefe unhappy Europeans, called Derufi, or Drufi, ilill inhabit 
the fame uncultivated wilds, and retain nothing of Chriftianity but 
the name. 

Converfionof In fomc of the northern parts of Europe, the religion of the 
andStl^ia-^ Gofpcl had not yet triumphed over the fiercenefs and fuperftitions 
nians. of Paganifm. The Pruflians ftill retained the idolatrous worfhip 
of their anceftors, nor was any impreflion made on the minds of 
this people by the various miftionaries who had been fent amongft 
them. Their obftinacy at length induced Conrad, Duke of Maf- 

fovia. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



41 



fovia, to have recourfe to more forcible methods of convertine; cent. 

XIII 

them. For this purpofe, he applied in the year 1230 to the Teu- 

tonic Knights of St. ISIarj, who, after their expulfion from Palef- 
tine, had fettled at Venice, and engaged them to undertake the 
conqueft and converfion of the Pruffians. Thej accordingly ar- 
rived in PrulTia, and, after an obftinate conteft of fifty years, they 
fubdued its refolute inhabitants, and eftabliflied their own domi- 
nion and the profeffion of Chriftianity amongft them. The 
Knights purfued the fame unchriltian methods in the neighbour- 
ing countries, and particularly in Lithuania, the inhabitants of 
which provinces were thus conllrained to profefs a feigned fub- 
miffion to the Gofpel. 

In Spain, Chrifiianity gradually gained ground. The kings of Progrels in 
Caftile, Leon, Navarre, and Arragon, waged perpetual war with 
the Saracen princes, who ftill retained the kingdoms of Valentia, 
Granada, and Mercia, together with the province of Andalufia. 
This conteft was carried on with fuch fignal fuccefs, that the Sa- 
racen dominion declined daily, and was reduced within narrower 
bounds ; while the pale of the Church was extended on every fide. 
Among the princes who contributed to this happy revolution, 
James the Firft of Arragon was particularly diftinguiftied by his 
zealous efforts in the advancement of Chrillianity, and the con- 
verfion of his Arabian fubjecls after his recovery of Valentia, in 
the year l 23G. 

In the fourteenth century, the caufe of Chriftianity greatly de- cent. 
clined in the Eaft. The profeflion of it was, indeed, ftill retained — ^^^^-^ — 
in the contracted empire of the Greeks, of wliich Conftanlinople ciVriiiiaiiky 
was the metropolis. But in Afia, the Turks and Tartars, who 
extended their dominions with allonifliing rapidity, dellroycd, 

G wherever 



42 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



GENT, wherever they went, the fruits of the labours of the Chriflian mif- 

XIV 

' — fionaries during the preceding century, and fubrtituted the impof- 

ture of Mohammed for the religion of Chrift. In China, Chrifti- 
anity feemed to be almoft totally extirpated by the jealoufy of the 
reigning powers ; while the celebrated Tamerlane, after having 
fubdued the greateft part of Alia, and triumphed over Bajazet, the 
Emperor of the Turks, and even filled Europe with the terror of 
his arms, perfecuted all who bore the Chriftian name with the 
moll barbarous feverity, and compelled multitudes, by his cruel- 
ties, to apoftatize from the faith. Attempts were made in this 
century to renew the crufades, but without efFe6l. It is obvious, 
however, that, had they even fucceeded, they were but ill calcu- 
lated to revive Chriftianity in the Eaft. 

Progrefs in The boundaries of Chriftianity had, in the mean time, been gra- 
Lithuanifl, ^jy^jjy extending in Europe. Jagello, Duke of Lithuania, was al- 
moft the only prince who retained the Pagan worfhip of his an- 
ceftors. At length, in the year 1386, having become a competi- 
tor for the crown of Poland, and his idolatry being the only ob- 
llacle to his fuccefs, he embraced the Chriftian faith, and per- 
fuaded his fubjeds to follow his example. The Teutonic Knights 
continued their perfecution of the Pagan Pruffians and Livonians, 
and completed in this century the violent work which they had 
commenced during the preceding. Great numbers of the Jews 
in leveral parts of Europe, more particularly in France and Ger- 
many, were in a fimilar manner compelled to make a profeffion of 
Chriftianity. And in Spain, a plan was formed by the Chriftian 
princes for the expulfion of the Saracens, which afforded a pro- 
fpe<ft of at length uniting that whole country in the faith of 
Chrift. 



The 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



43 



The fucceeding century accordingly witneiTed the entire over- cent. 

throw of the Saracen dominion in Spain, by the conqueft of Gra — '• — 

nada, in the year \4Q2, by Ferdinand the Catholic. Shortly after 
this important revolution, that monarch publiflied a fentence of 
banifliment againft the Jews in his dominions, great numbers of 
whom, to avoid this fevere decree, feigned an alfent to the Chrif- 
tian religion. The Saracens, who remained in Spain after the de- 
ftruction of their empire, refifted both the exhortations, and the 
more violent methods of profelytifm, which were afterwards re- 
commended by the celebrated Cardinal Ximenes, and perfevered 
in their attachment to the Arabian impoftor. 



The people of Samogitia, in the neighbourhood of Courland and The Samogi- 
Lithuania, remained Pagan till the fifteenth century ; when Ula- 
diilaus. King of Poland, demoliflied their idols, founded fome 
Churches among them, and afterwards fent fome priefts to inftrud; 
them. But his fuccefs in their converfion was by no means con- 
liderable. 

The maritime entcrprifes of the Portugiiefe towards the clofe of Difcovcrj' of 
this century, and, above all, the difcovery of the iflands and conti- 
nent of America by Columbus, in the year 1492, opened, however, 
a new and extend ve field for the exertion of Chriftian benevolence. 

The fidl attempt of this kind was made by the Portuguefe, Progrefs of 

, , . /- 1 1 • 1 r i ^ 1 1 ChriUianity 

amongtt the Africans or the kmgdom or Congo; who, together on the coaft 
with their king, were fuddenly converted to the Romifli faith in ^^^^^ica, 
the year 1191 ; in w hat manner, and with what effect, it is not 
difficult to determine. 

After tiiis fingular revolution in Africa, Pope Alexander the 
Sixth, who had arrogantly divided the continent of America be- 
tween the Spaniards and the Portuguefe, earncllly exhorted thcfe 

G '2 two 



44 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, two nations to propagate the Gofpel amongft the inhabitants of 
— '^-^ — thofe immenfe regions. A great number of Francifcans and Do- 



In America niinicans were in confeqiience fent out to America and its iflands; 

who, with the afliftance of the cruel invaders of thofe countries, 
fpeedilj converted numbers of the wretched natives to the nomi- 
nal profefQon of a corrupt and debafed form of Chriftianitj. 

Decline of But the decHue of the Chriftian religion in the Eall during this 
the Eaft! ccntury unhappily more than counterbalanced thefe acceffions in 
the Weft. Aliatic Tartary, Mogul, Tangut, and the adjacent 
provinces, where Chriftianity had long flouriftied, were now be- 
come the feats of fuperftition, which reigned triumphant in its 
moft degrading forms. Except in China, where the Neftorians 
ftill preferved fome faint remains of their former glory, fcarcely 
any traces of Chriftianity exifted in thofe immenfe trails of coun- 
try ; and even thefe did not furvive the century. 

Deftruftion A ncw fourcc of Calamity to the Chriftian Church, both in 
clan empire Europc and Afia, was opened, by the deftru6lion of the Grecian 
by the Turks, gj^p^j.^^ and the capture of Conftantinople, by the Turks, under 
Mohammed the Second, in the year 1453. By this difaftrous event, 
befides the provinces which had been already fubdued by the Ot- 
toman arms, Epirus and Greece fell under the dominion of the 
Crefcent, and Chriftianity became gradually'' buried under the refift- 
lefs torrent of Mohammedan ignorance and barbarifm. In Con- 
ftantinople and the neighbouring cities, in Theflalonica, Philippi, 
and Corinth, where Chriftianity had once fo eminently flouriftied, 
moft of the Churches were converted into mofques, and the Chrif- 
tians were forced at length to retain their religion in fecret and in 



' See note F. 



filence. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



45 



filence. Yet even this tremendous ruin, the juft confequence of C EN T. 

the corrupt Hate of the Grecian Church, was eventually, by the 

providence of the fupreme Governor of the world, rendered fub- 
fervient to the moll important and beneficial purpofes. The emi- 
gration of learned men from the Eaft was one of the principal 
means of reviving the Rudy of literature in Europe, and the re- 
markable concurrent difcovery' of the art of printing in the year 
1440 contributed both to the production and the fuccefs of that 
memorable revolution, which in the fucceeding century changed 
the face of the Chriftian world. 



This great event was the Reforination from the errors and fu- CENT. 
. . . . . XVI 
perftitions of the Romifli Church, which commenced in Saxony 

by the magnanimous exertions of the jurtly celebrated Martin Lu- Jtb^n!^*^ '^^^ 
ther, and which forms«the m'oft prominent feature in the hiftory 
of the Jixtccnth century. Europe at this time, with very few ex- 
ceptions, was converted to the public profeffion of Chriftianity, 
though fcarcely any thing fliort of the ruin which had over- 
whelmed the Eaftern Church could be more deplorable than the 
ftate of the Wejlern, at the commencement of this period. 
The thick darknefs which had gradually overfpread it was be- 
ginning to be difpclled, by the revival of literature and philofo- 
phy during the preceding century ; but at the glorious aera of the 
Reformation, the pure light of moral and religious truth flione 
forth with reoovated lurtre, and produced the mofi: important ef- 
fects on the general ftate of Europe. The profelfion of Chrilti- 
anity, which now pervaded almolt every part of that quarter of 
the world, ncceflarily preclu(ied any further propagation of it, and 
rellrain«<d its European hillory to that of the contorts between the 
Reformers and the Church of Rome. 

For 



46 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT. For the exteniion, therefore, of the pale of the vifible Church 
during this century, we muft chieflj look to the newlj difcovered 



chrlftlanity regions of America. The Spaniards and Portuguefe, if we may 
111 America credit to their hiflorians, exerted themfelves with the utmoft 

and elle- fc> 

•where by the vigour and fucccfs in propagating the Gofpel amongft the barba- 
Portuguefe?^ rous nations of the new world. It cannot, indeed, be difputed, 
that they communicated fome faint and imperfect knowledge of 
Chriftianity to the inhabitants of America, to thofe parts of Africa 
to which they carried their invading arms, and to the iflands and 
maritime provinces of Alia, which they fubjedled to their domi- 
Nature of it. nion. It is certain, alfo, that contiderable numbers of thefe un- 
happy people, who had hitherto been enflaved by the mofi: abjed: 
fuperftition, apparently embraced the religion of Chrift. But, 
when it is confidered, that thefe nominal converfions were ob- 
tained by the moft violent and cruel methods, and that their ac- 
quaintance with Chriftianity conlifted only of a blind veneration 
for their inftru6lors, and the performance of a few unmeaning ce- 
remonies, we are tempted, with fome of the moft pious and intel- 
ligent even of their own writers, rather to lament that the Gofpel 
Ihould ever have been thus propagated ; and to regard both the 
labours of thefe falfe apoftles, and their converts, with a mixture 
of indignation and pity. 

The progrefs of the Reformation having given an efFedual 
check to the ambition of the Roman Pontiffs, and even deprived 
them of a great part of their fpiritual dominion in Europe, they 
began to dired; their attention to other quarters of the world; and, 
to indemnify themfelves for thefe loffes, they became more foli- 
citous than they had ever yet been to propagate Chriftianity in 
Pagan countries. In the execution of this defign, the renowned 
The Jefuits. fociety of Jefuits, which was eftabliflied by Ignatius Loyola in the 

J ear 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



47 



year 1540, feemed particularly calculated to affift the Court of cent. 
Rome. A certain proportion of their order, who were to be at the — - — 
abfolute difpofal of the Roman Pontiff, were accordingly, from its 
commencement, directed to be formed for the work of propagat- 
ing Chriftianity amongft unenlightened nations. Great numbers 
of this important fociety were in confequence employed in the 
converfion of the African, American, and Indian heathens. But 
both the credit and the real fuccefs of their labours were leflened 
and obfcured by the corrupt motives which too ev idently appeared 
to a(ftuate thefe zealous miffionaries, and by the unchrijl'ian means 
which they adopted to accomplith their purpofe. 

The example of the Jefuits excited the emulation of the Domi- 
nicans and Francifcans, and of feveral other religious orders ; but 
it may be juftly doubted, whether the interefts of pure and unde- 
filed Chriftianity were not rather injured than promoted by their 
labours. 

Amongfi; the members of the fociety of Jefuits who were thus Xavier. 
engaged in the propagation of the Gofpel, Francis Xavier, who 
acquired the honourable title of the Apojile of the Indians, ob- 
tained the moll dillinguiClied reputation. In the year 1522, this His labours 
great man, who pollelfed many of the requifites of a fuccefsful j"p"i^'^ '^^^ 
miflionary, fet fail for the Portuguefe fettlements in India ; and in 
a fliort time fpread the knowledge of Chriftianity, as it is profelfcd 
by the Church of Rome, in many parts of the continent, and in 
feveral of the illands of that remote region. From thence, in the 
year 1529, he palVcd into Japan, and there laid, with incredible 
aAivity, the foundations of the Church, which llourilhed during 
fo many years in that illand and its dependencies. His indefati- 
gable zeal j)romptcd him to attempt the convcrfion of tlie vail 
empire of China ; and, w ith this intention, he embarked for that 

country, 



48 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CE NT, country, but died in fight of the obje6l of his voyage, in the year 
-^-^ — 1552. After his death, other members of his order penetrated 
Thofe of into China. The chief of thefe was Matthew Ricci, an Itahan, 
R^cci in Chi- ^Yio rendered himfelf fo acceptable to the Chinefe Emperor and 
his nobles by his mathematical knowledge, that he obtained for 
himfelf and his affociates the liberty of explaining to the people 
the dodrines of the Gofpel. Ricci may therefore be confidered as 
the founder of the Chriftian Church, which, notwithftanding the 
viciffitudes it has undergone, ftill fubfifts in China 

Proteftant at- The dominions of the Proteftant princes being confined within 
tempts. ^-j^g limits of Europe, the Churches under their protedlion could 
contribute but little towards the propagation of the Gofpel in 
thofe difi:ant regions which have been jufl: mentioned. It is cer- 
tain, however, that in the year 1556, fourteen Protefiiant mifiion- 
aries were fent from Geneva to convert the Americans, although 
it is neither known by whom this defign was promoted, nor with 
what fuccefs it was attended. The Englifb alfo, who, towards 
the clofe of this century, fent colonies into the northern parts of 
America, gradually extended their religion amongfi: that rude and 
uncivilized people. It may be added, that about this time the 
Swedes exerted themfelves in converting to Chriftianity many of 
the inhabitants of Finland and Lapland, of whom confiderable 
numbers had hitherto retained the extravagant fuperfiiitions of 
their Pagan ancefi;ors. 

The vigorous attempts which were made during this century to 
fupport the grandeur of the Papal fee, by the propagation of 
Chriftianity in diftant nations, were renewed during the next ®, 



' See Barrow's Travdis in China. 



' i. e. the feventeenth. 

and 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



49 



and were attended with confiderable fuccefs. In the year 1O22, cent. 
Gregory the Fifteenth, by the advice of his confeflbr Narni, 



founded at Rome the celebrated College " De propaganda fide," College " De 
and endowed it with ample revenues. The College confilted ofrc^^e!"^^" ' 
thirteen cardinals, two priefts, and one fecretary, and was defigned 
to propagate and maintain the religion of the Church of Rome in 
every quarter of the globe. The funds of this fociety M ere fo 
greatly augmented by the munificence of Urban the Eighth, and 
the liberality of other benefactors, that it became adequate to the 
mofi: fplendid and extenfive undertakings. The objects to which 
its attention was directed, were the fupport of millionaries in va- 
rious parts of the world ; the publication of books to facilitate the 
fiudy of foreign languages ; the tranflation of the Scriptures, and 
other pious writings, into various tongues ; the efl:ablifliment of 
feminaries for the education of young men defi;ined to acl as mif- 
fionaries ; the erection of houfes for the reception of young Pa- 
gans yearly fent to Rome, who, on their return to their native 
countries, were to become the inllruclors of their unenlightened 
brethren ; and the fupport of charitable inftitutions for the relief 
of thofe who might fufFer on account of their zeal in the fervice 
of the Church of Rome. Such were the arduous and complicated 
fchemes of this celebrated College. To this, however, another of Other flmilar 
a fimilar kind was added in the year 1O27 by Pope Urban the f,f,!','^t^| ^' 
Eighth, which owed its origin to the piety and munificence of 
John Daptilt Viles, a Spanifli nobleman. The fame fpirit of pious 
beneficence was communicated to France about the year 1663, 
and produced feveral other eftabliflimcnts of this nature ; particu- 
larlv the " Congregation of Priells of foreign millions," and the 
" Parifian Seminary for the millions abroad;" the one for the ac- 
tual fending forth of niillioiKuics, the other for the education of fit 
pcrfons for that important work. A third focittty in France was 

If deno- 



50 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, denominated, " the Congregation of the holy Sacrament," and was 

— - under the diredlion of the Pope, and the College De propaganda 

at Rome. 

Miffionaries From thefe various inftitutions a great number of miffion- 
inftitutions. ^''i^s were fent forth during the feventeenth century to different 
parts of the world, who converted multitudes to the outward pro- 
feffion of Chriftianity, and fubje6lion to the Church of Rome. 
The religious orders who chiefly diftinguiflied themfelves in thefe 
millions were the Jefuits, the Dominicans, the Francifcans, and 
the Capuchins ; who, though engaged in one great, common de- 
Praaices of fign, mutually oppofed and accufed each other. Of thefe, the Je- 

tliG JciViits. 

fuits are juftly confidered as having employed the mofl unwar- 
rantable methods in the propagation of Chrifiianity ^ They were 
accufiiomed to explain the doctrines of Paganifm in fuch a man- 
ner, as to foften and diminifh, at leaft in appearance, their oppo- 
lition to the truths of the Gofpel ; and wherever the fainteft re- 
femblance could be traced between them, they endeavoured to 
perfuade their difciples of the coincidence of the two religions. 
They permitted their profelytes, alfo, to retain fuch of their an- 
cient rites and cuftoms as were not glaringly inconfiftent with 
Chrifiian worfliip ; and thus laboured to efFecl a coalition between 
Paganifm and Chrijiianity . To thefe artifices they added an un- 
wearied affiduity in conciliating the favour and confidence of the 
priefts, and civil governors of the people, to whom they were fent, 
and that by means wholly unworthy of the chara6ler of Chriflian 
ambafTadors to the heathen. It fliould be mentioned, to the ho- 
nour of the other religious orders who were engaged in fimilar 
undertakings, that they uniformly difdained this worldly policy of 



• See note G. 



the 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



51 



the Jefuits ; and, wherever they went, preached the pecuhar, ex- ^^^^j^- 

clufive, and unaccommodating doArines of Chriftianity with Apo- 

ftolic boldnefs and fimpUcitj. 

By the labours of thefe various milTionaries, the knowledge of 
Chriftianity was difleminated, during this century, through the 
greateft part of Atia. The Jefuits and others communicated fome Their labom^ 
rays of divine truth, though mixed with much error and fuper- 
ftition, to thofe parts of India which had been polTefled by the 
Portuguefe previous to their expulfion by the Dutch. The moft 
celebrated of the miffions which were eftablilhed in that remote 
region was that of Madura, which was undertaken by Robert de Robert d^. 
Nobili, an Itahan Jefuit. The plan which he adopted for the con- 
verfion of the Indians is a Angular fpecimen of that worldly and 
temporizing policy, which has fo juftly brought reproach on the 
miffions of his fociety. He aflumed the appearance of a Brahmin, 
who had come from a far diftant country, and by his aufterities, 
and other artifices, perfuaded many native Brahmins to receive 
him as a member of their order, and to fubmit to his inftru(3:ions. 
By their influence and example, great numbers of the people were 
induced to become his difciplcs, and the miffion continued in a 
flourifliing condition till the year 1/44 ; when, with others in the 
kingdoms of Carnatc and Marava, which the Jefuits had cfta- 
bliflied, it was formally fupprefled by Benedict the Fourteenth, 
who exprefTed his difapprobation of the methods which they had 
praclifed for the converfion of the heathen 

Chriftianity was, during this century, firft conveyed to the 



" For a full account of tliis famous minion, of wliicli the Jefuits particularly 
boaft, fee the " Lettres Curicufes et Ediliantes ecrites des Millions Etrangcrcs." 

H 2 kingdoms 



33 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, kingdoms of Siam, Tonquin, and Cochin-China, by a million of 
■■ .. ii^Q Jefuits, under the direction of Alexander of Rhodes, a native 



qlS^'aJiT' Avignon; w^hofe inftrudions were received v^ith uncommon 
Cochin-Chi- docilitj by an immenfe number of the inhabitants of thofe coun- 
tries. The miffion continued to be fuccefsful in the kingdom of 
Siam till the year 1688, v^hen the violent death of the king and 
his chief minifter, who favoured it, obliged the milTionaries to re- 
turn home. 

Miffion of the At the Commencement of this century, a numerous fociety of 
China^"^ Jefuits, Dominicans, Francifcans, and Capuchins, proceeded to 
China with a view to enlighten that vafl empire with the know- 
ledge of the Gofpel. Though differing in other points, thefe dif- 
cordant miflionaries agree in alTerting the wonderful fuccefs which 
attended their labours. The Jefuits efpecially, by their literary 
and fcientific attainments, acquired great influence with two fuc- 
cellive Chinefe emperors, which they directed to the furtherance 
of their great and important delign ; and had their integrity been 
as great as their talents and activity, they would have acquired 
immortal renown by their exertions in the caufe of Chriftianity in 
this immenfe region But they purfued in China the fame com- 
promiling plan which has been already mentioned, and which 
they did not hefltate to defend, by reforting to the plea of necef- 
fity ; alleging, that certain evils and inconveniences may be law- 
fully fubmitted to for the attainment of important and falutary 
purpofes. 



' Lett. Cur. et Edif. torn. vili. The progrefs of this miffion, and the charges 
-urged againft the conduct of the Jefuits, are fufficiently detailed in Moflieim, cent. 
37. vol. V. 



The 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 53 



The minlfterial labours of the Romifli miffionaries, particular]}' cent. 

of the Jefuits, were eminently fuccefsful, about the fame period, — '- 

in the iflands of Japan, notwithftanding the jealoufy and oppofi- In Japan, 
tion of the native priefts and nobles, and the ftill more fatal dif- 
putes of the miffionaries amongft themfelves. The fuccefs, how- 
ever, of the Gofpel in Japan was, unhappily, but of fliort dura- 
tion. In the year l6l5, the hopes of its minillers were fuddenly 
blafted, by the publication of a perfecuting edicl of the emperor, 
occafioned, as it is generally agreed, by the difcovery of certain 
feditious defigns of the Jefuits ; which was executed with a degree 
of barbarity unparalleled in the annals of Chriftian hiftory. This 
cruel perfecution, during which many both among the Jefuits and 
their adverfaries teftified the fmcerity of their attachment to the 
Chriftian faith, and almofi: expiated, if the expreffion may be al- 
lowed, the errors of their minillry, raged for many years with un- 
relenting fury ; and ended only with the total extinction of Chrif- 
tianity throughout that empire. 

The example of the Roman Catholic ftates tended to excite a Protcftant at- 
fpirit of pious emulation in Protertant countries, to propagate their 
purer form of Chritlianity amongft the heathen nations. The pe- 
culiar fituation of the Lutheran princes, whofe territories were for 
the moft part within the limits of Europe, prevented them from 
engaging in this laudable defign. This was, however, by no 
means the cafe with all the ftates who profefled the reformed reli- 
gion. The Englith and Dutch, more efpecially, whofe commerce 
extended over the whole world, and who had font colonics to 
Alia, Africa, and America, had the faircft opportunities of exert- 
ing themfelves in this great caufe ; and although neither of thcfe 
nations can be faid to have improved them to the utmoll of its 
power, they by no means entirely neglecled them. 

In 



54 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, In the year 1617, a Society was eftablifhed in England by an 
EiTriifii soc i Parliament, for the propagation of the Gofpel in foreign 

et}°foi- the parts. The civil war, which enfued, fufpended the execution of 
onhe^Gof- this plan ; but at the Reftoration the work was refumed. In the 
P^^- year 1701, this refped:able Society was incorporated by a charter, 

and received other marks of favour from King William the Third ; 
and was enriched with new donations and privileges. Since that 
period, it has been frequently dillinguifhed by royal munificence, 
and b}^ the liberality of many private perfons. The primary ob- 
je6t of this Society being to promote Chriftianity in the Britifli 
colonies, its exertions have hitherto been principally directed to 
the plantations in North America ; where feveral miffionaries and 
fchoolmafters are conftantly employed at its expence, in places 
which would othervvife have been deflitute of the public worfhip 
of God, and almoft of the knowledge of the Golpel. 

Efforts of the The cfForts of the United Provinces were fuccefsfully directed 
viiices. to the iflands of Ceylon and Pormofa, the coaft of Malabar, and 
other Afiatic fettlements, which they had either acquired by their 
own induftry, or had conquered from the Portuguefe. No fooner 
were the Dutch fufficiently eftablifhed in the Eaft Indies, than 
they formed various fchemes for the religious inftrudlion of the 
natives; great numbers of whom 7 were converted to theChriftian 
faith. 

In Africa, the miffionaries of the Church of Rome were in the 
^''ear l634 banifhed from the kingdom of Abyffinia. But on the 
Roman Ca- wcftcrn coaft of that continent, the Capuchin miffionaries, after 
fions hi Afri- ^riduring the moft dreadful hardffiips and difcouragements, fuc- 



ca. 



f See Epift. de Succeflu Evangelii apud Indos Orientales. Ultrajedl. 1599, 

ceeded 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



55 



ceeded in perfuading the kings of Benin and Awerri, and the CENT. 

queen of ]Metemba, to embrace Chriltianity, about the year l652. — 

The converlions, however, which took place among the Africans, 
are acknowledged to have been very flight and imperfecl, and to 
have been confined to the maritime provinces ; and more particu- 
larly to the Portuguefe fettlements. The interior of this great 
peninfula remains ftill, in a great meafure, inacceflible to the mofl 
adventurous Europeans. 

The late aufpicious meafure of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 
and the formation of the African Inftitution, will however, it is 
hoped, gradually lead to the civilization of this long injured con- 
tinent, and eventually to the propagation of Chriftianity amongtl 
its unhappy natives. 

The various colonies from Spain, Portugal, and France, which 
were ellabliflied in the extenfive continent of America, were in- 
ftrumental in diffufing fome faint and corrupted notions of Chrif- 
tianity among the conquered and the neighbouring nations. Great 
multitudes of them, however, were prevented, by their dilhincc 
from European fettlements, and their wandering and unfcttled 
Hate, from deriving even this flight advantage. The Jefuits, un- jefuits in 
der the pretence of propagating the Chriflian religion, but, in 
reality, to gratify their own infatiable avarice and inordinate am- 
bition, erected feveral cities, and founded civil focictics, cemented 
by government and laws, in feveral provinces both in South and 
North America. The mofl: celebrated of thefe fettlements was in 
the province of Paraguay, where, by their infinuating manners, 
and the natural afcendancy of talents, they fucceeded in forming 
a republic compofed of Indians, from which every European was 
cautioufly excluded. In order to prevent more effcdlually all 
communication between the Indians and Europeans, the Spanifli 

Ian- 



56 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, language was prohibited throughout the extent of this new em- 

— pire ; and the natives were accuftomed to regard the Jefuits not 

only as their inftruftors, but as their fovereigns, and to look upon 
all other Europeans as their mortal enemies. Such was the ftate 
of things till the year 1 752, when the myftery of this fmgular 
government was difclofed, by the attempts of the courts of Spain 
and Portugal to execute a treaty refpecling the limits of their fe- 
veral dominions ; which being refifted by the Jefuits, and a war 
enfuing between the Spaniards and Portuguefe and the Indians, 
the real views of the Jefuits became apparent, and an efFed;ual 
check was given to their ambition. 

The Englifh The caufc of Chriftlanity was more wifely and fuccefsfully pro- 
America, moted in thofe parts of America, in which the Englifli had formed 
fettlements during this century ; and, notwithftanding the various 
obftacles which it had to encounter, it made in a ftiort time fome 
confiderable progrefs. The Independents, who retired to Ame- 
rica on account of their dilTent from the Eftablifhed Church, 
claim the honour of beginning this important work. Several fa- 
milies of Independents, which had been fettled in Holland, re- 
moved to America^ in the year 1620 ; and there laid the founda- 
tions of a new Hate. The fuccefs which attended this firft emi- 
gration induced great numbers of the Puritans to follow the ex- 
ample in the year 1629. Between the years 1631 and l634, frefli 
emigrants arrived, amongft whom were the Puritans Mayhew, 
Sheppard, and Elliott ; men who were eminently qualified by 
their piety, zeal, and fortitude, for the arduous work of convert- 
ing the favage natives. In this they were all remarkably labo- 
rious and fuccefsful ; but more particularly the latter, who learned 



* To that part of America which was afterwards called New Plymouth. 

their 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



57 



their lanp;iiap;e, into which he tranflated the Bible, and other in- c E N T. 

. . XVII 
ftruclive books, collected the wandering Indians together, and '— 

formed them into regular focieties ; inll:ru6led them in a manner 

fuited to their dull apprehenfions ; and by his zeal, ingenuity, and 

indefatigable indullry, merited, and obtained at his death, the title 

of the Apojile of the North American Indians ^. 

In the American provinces which were taken from the Portu- The Dutch, 
guefe by the Dutch, under the command of Count Maurice of 
Nallau, zealous efforts were made for the converfion of the na- 
tives by their new mailers, and with much fuccefs : but the re- 
covery of thofe territories by the Portuguefe, in the year l644, 
obfcured the pleafing profped; which was beginning to open upon 
them. In the Dutch colony of Surinam, no attempt has been 
made to inftrucl the neiglibouring Indians in the knowledge of 
Chriftianity, except by the charitable and felf-denying labours of 
the Moravian miffionaries ^. 

The eighteenth century was dillinguiflied by very confiderable CENT, 
efforts in the great work of propagating the Gofpel. The Popifh 
and Proteflant miffionaries manifelled equal zeal in difleminating 
its dodrines in Afia, Africa, and America. In the early part of 
the century, the Jefuits converted great numbers to the profeffion The Jefuits 
of the Romifli faith, in the Eall Indies, particularly in the king- 
doms of Carnatc, Madura, and Marava, on the coall of Malabar, 
in the kingdom of Tonquin, in the Chinefe empire, and in certain 

» It was the unexpected fuccefs which had attended thefe pious labours, that 
firft excited tlie attention of the Parliament and people of England, and gave rife 
to the Society for the I'ropagation of the Golpcl in Foreign Parts, which lias been 
before mentioned. 
See page 60. 

I pro- 



58 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, provinces of America. It is, however, to be feared, that the 

'- greater number of thofe whom the Romifli milTionaries have per- 

fuaded to renounce Paganifm, are Chriftians only fo far as exter- 
nal profeffion and the obfervance of certain religious ceremonies 
extend ; and that, with very little of the true fpirit of Chriftianity, 
they retain their ancient fuperftitions under a different form. 

The converts which were made by the Proteftant miflionaries 
during this century, though far lefs numerous, were, in general, 
much more folid and fincere. In the year 1706, Frederic the 
Fourth, King of Denmark, with equal wifdom, piety, and munifi- 
Danilh mif- ccncc, eftablifhcd a miffion for the converfion of the Indians on 
€oaft°of Co- coaft of Coromande], which has been eminently fuccefsful. 
romandel. The firfl miffionary from this noble inftitution was Bartholomew 
Ziegenbalgius, a man of conliderable learning and eminent piety ^, 
who applied himfelf with fo much zeal to the ftudy of the lan- 
guage of the country, that in a few years he obtained fo perfect a 
knowledge of it, as to be able to converfe fluently with the na- 
tives. His addreffes to them, and his conferences with the Brah- 
mins, were attended with fo much fuccefs, that a Chriliian Church 
was founded in the fecorid year of his minifi;ry, which has been 
gradually increaflng to the prefent time. During his refidence in 
India, he maintained a correfpondence with feveral European fo- 
vereigns ; and on his return to Europe in the year 1714, on the 
affairs of his miffion, he was honoured with an audience by King 
Patronized Gcorgc the Firfl ; and was invited to attend a fitting of the Bi- 
ety^or pro-' -^^P^ Society for promoting Chriflian Knowledge, to whofe 

motingChlif- patronage the Danifh miffion had been fome time previoufly re- 

tian Know- & ir J 

ledge. 

* Dr. Buchanan dates his arrival in India in 0>Slober 1705. See his Memoir, 
p. 69. 

commended. 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 5g 



commended The grand work, to which the King and the cent. 

. . XVIII. 

Bifhops directed his attention, was a tranflation of the Scrip- - 

tures into the Tamel language ; and fo diligent was this emi- 
nent miffionary in his ftudies, that before the year l/lQ he had 
completed that great work, and had, alfo, compofed a Gram- 
mar and Dictionary of the fame tongue, which are RiW extant. 
With this zealous miffionary was alfociated Henry Plutfcho, 
and John Ernelt Grundlerus. The firft llation in which they 
were eftabliihed was Tranquebar, on the coatl of Coromandel, 
which has continued to be the chief feat of the DaniQi mif- 
fion. Ziegenbalgius finiflied his mortal courfe in India at the 
early age of thirty-fix years ; but a conftant fucceliion of zealous 
and pious men has been continued, by whofe miniftry Chriftianity 
has been extended to many different parts of India ; and although 
the number of the converts which have been made is far fliort of 
that of which the Romifli miHionaries boatl, it muft be remem- 
bered, that Protellant teachers are not accuftomed to confider any 
as fuch, until fome fatisfaclory proofs are given of the extent of 
their knowledge, and of the finccrity of their practice of the 
Chriftian religion. Befides the patronage and affiftance which the 
venerable Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge thus af- 
forded to the Danifli million at Tranquebar, and which has ever 
fince been continued, in the year 1/28 it fent out miffionaries at Extenfion of 
its own expence to Madras; who were followed, in 173 7, by ^'^^"r'^'^"' 
others to Cuddalore, Negapatam, Tanjore, and Trichinopoly, and 
in 1 7(i6 to Tirutfchinapally ; by whofe indefatigable labours, 
above all, by thofe of the apollolic Swartz, Chriftian congrega- 
tions have been formed in thofe places, and in many others in 



I* By the Rev. Anthony William Bochm, Chaplain to Prince George of Den- 
mark. 

1 2 their 



6o BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 

CENT, their neighbourhood. The fame excellent Society alfo fupports a 



the United 
Brethren. 



milConarj at Malacca. 

Millions of Amongft the Proteftant Churches which have diftinguifhed 
themfelves by their zeal in the propagation of Chriftianitj, that 
of the Unitas Fratrum, or Moravians, is entitled to hold a very 
high rank. It is well known, that this body of Chriftians have 
long fince purged themfelves from the corrupt practices which 
were once juftly obje6led againft them^, and are now in general 
diftinguilhed by the peculiar iimplicity and purity of their moral 
and religious condu6t. During a long courfe of years, they have 
fupported millions in various parts of the world ; and in ardent 
zeal for the converfion of the heathen, in patience under the moll 
difficult and trying circumftances, in perfeverance amidft the moft 
unpromifing appearances, they have never, perhaps, been fur- 
palTed by any denomination of Chriftians. The Church of the 
United Brethren fupports twenty-nine different miffions, in which 
one hundred and fixty miffionaries are employed. Their principal 
nations are in Greenland, on the coaft of Labrador, in Canada, 
and amongll the North American Indians ; in the illands of Ja- 
maica, Antigua, St. Chriftopher's, Tobago ; amongft the Indians 
and free Negroes in Bambey, near Surinam ; amongft the Hot- 
tentots at Bavian's Kloof, near the Cape of Good Hope ; and at 
Sarepta, near Aftracan. Various miffions are eftabliffied in thefe 
remote parts of the world, and in many of them they have been 
lignally fuccefsful ^ 



« See Moflieim, Vol. VI. p. 23. note. 
In confirmation of this aflertion, fee Barrow's Travels in Southern Africa, 
where a very interefting account is given of the Moravian niiflion at Bavian's 
Kloof, on the banks of Zonder End River. 



The 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



til 



The difcoveries which were made by the late celebrated navi- cent. 

gator. Captain Cook, and others, during the eighteenth century, — 

opened a vaft field for the propagation of Chrillianity, which has i^onary"so-'' 
not, however, hitherto been cultivated to any great extent. In^'">'- 
the year 17Q5, a fociety was formed amongft various dalles of 
Englifh Diflenters, to which large fums were fubfcribed, and un- 
der the aufpices of which a miffion was undertaken to the ifland 
of Otaheite ; which, though by no means with a fuccefs anfwer- 
ing the fanguine expectations of its fupporters, continues to exift. 
The fame fociety has directed its efforts to fouthern Africa, and to 
Canada, where its miffions have been attended with confiderable 
fuccefs ^ Six of its miffionaries, alfo, were fent to Tranquebar in 
the year 1805, of whom three remained to learn the Tamel 
tongue, two fettled in Ceylon, and a third was on his ^vay to that 
ifland. Thefe miflionaries have fince been followed by feveral 
others from the fame fociety, who, with the reft of their brethren, 
are now labouring in different parts of India ^. 

Amonp-ft the rep-ions to which Chriilianity has been carried ^^^nv South 

^ ^ . Wales. 

during this century, muft alfo be mentioned the colony of New 
South Wales ; where, however, it has been as yet almoft entirely 
confined to the exiled European inhabitants of that remote fettle- 
ment. 



In the year I7f)3, a milfionary fociety was inftitutcd by the Eapiift Mii"- 
Englifli Baptirts, the attention of which has been hitherto directed 
to Bengal. The feat of this miffion is fixed at the Danifli fadory 

' See the Reports of this Society, particularly that of the prefent year, 1807. 
c At Vizigapatnam, and Madras, in Travancore, and at Surat. 

of 



62 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, of Serampore, and its labours have within the lafl two years been 
unexpededly fuccefsful ^\ 

Miffionary Towards the clofe of this century, feveral other focieties were 
Scotland. inftituted in Scotland, for the purpofe of fending miflionaries to 
Pagan countries, the principal of which are at Edinburgh and 
Glafgow. They had not, however, efFedied the eftablifhment of 
any milTion till the year 1803 ; when the Rev. Henry Brunton 
and Mr. Patterfon left Edinburgh, under the patronage of the Mif- 
lionary Society in that city, with the view of attempting a fettle- 
ment in the neighbourhood of Aftracan. The former of thefe 
miffionaries had already diftinguifhed himfelf by his fervices in 
Africa, which he was obliged to quit on account of his health, af- 
ter having made confiderable progrefs in the Soofoo language. At 
St. Peterfburgh, Mr. Brunton and his companion met with a very 
favourable reception from the RutTian government, and were fur- 
nillied with letters to the governors of the different provinces in 
their way to Ailracan. On the eighth of July they arrived at Sa- 
repta, the colony of the United Brethren, and proceeded in a few 
days to Aftracan. Although this city was confidered as a favour- 
able fituation for endeavouring to extend the Gofpel among the 
Pagans and Mohammedans, Mr. Brunton wilhed to find a fitua- 
tion contiguous both to Perfia and Turkey, whilfl: it fiiould be ren- 
dered fecure by being under the Rufiian government, where mif- 
fionaries might learn with facility the languages of thefe countries, 
and from which they might go forth to preach the Gofpel. Ac- 
cordingly, he proceeded under the prote6lion of the Rufiian go- 
vernment from Aftracan on the tenth of Augufi:, for the purpofe 

^ This miffion will be mentioned again in the following Diflertation. 

of 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL 



63 



of felecling an eligible Ipot for his permanent rcfidence. He c E n t. 

pitched at length upon a Tartar village, called Karafs, fituated near '— 

the fource of the river Cubane, on the frontier of the RiifTian em- 
pire, properly in the Circaffian country, at an equal diftance from 
the Euxine and Cafpian feas, and being within a few days' jour- 
ney of Perfia and Bokkaria, and within fifty miles of Turkey. The 
miffionaries enjoy the protection of a Ruffian garrifon in the fort 
of this village. In this flation Mr. Brunton has been joined by 
feveral other miffionaries, and is proceeding with remarkable zeal 
and fuccefs. Befides endeavouring to inftru(ft the natives of the 
country, and the Grangers who vifit them, in the Chrillian reli- 
gion, the miffionaries have purchafed many native youths, flaves 
to the Circaffiians and Cubane Tartars, and have formed a fchool 
for their inftrudion, in which they are taught the Turkifli and 
Englifli languages. Mr. Brunton has written and printed a 
trad: in Arabic againft ^lohammedifm, and difperfed it with fuc- 
cefs, together with fome Arabic New Tellaments. He has alfo 
made confiderable progrefs in tranflating the Scriptures into the 
native language. The lateft accounts w^hich have been received 
of this interefting miffiion flate that the fettlement is healthy ; 
that the baptized natives conduA themfelves in a manner becom- 
ing their profeffion ; that their young people are very promifing, 
feveral of them being able to read both Turkiffi and Englifh ; that 
the prejudices of the furrounding natives are not fo violent as for- 
merly, and that even fome of the EfFendis are become friendly, 
and feem to wiffi well to their caufe. The Ruffian government 
has made them a grant of land, and annexed to the grant certain 
important privileges'. 

At the commencement of fhc prcfent century, a fociety was 
' See the Proceedings of the Edinburgh Miflion. 

inflituted 



64 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, inftituted in London by members of the Eftablifhed Church for 

XIX . 
— - — '- — miffions to Africa and the Eaft. From the want of any offers 

miffions^to from oiir own countrymen, this refpe6lable focietj was induced to 
tiie Eaft"*^ refort to Germany for miffionaries to carry its defigns into execu- 
tion. They engaged feveral pious young men, who were in a 
courfe of education at an inftitution at Berlin for that purpofe, to 
place themfelves under their protection. Of thefe, two, after hav- 
ing received Lutheran ordination, embarked in the year 1804 for 
the colony at Sierra Leone, on the weftern coaft of Africa, where 
they have hitherto been chiefly employed in performing the public 
offices of religion in that fettlement, in perfecting their knowledge 
of the native languages, and in inflruCting a confiderable number 
of native children. One of them had, however, made fome ex- 
curfions amongfl the Soofoos, for the purpofe of afcertaining their 
difpofitions, and of fixing on fome fpot for a mifhonary ftation. 
Three other miffionaries, alfo Germans, have fince failed for Sierra 
Leone, to join their brethren in that colony. 

Extenfion of In North America, during the prefent century, a very unufual 
m^North*^^ degree of zeal has been excited for the propagation of Chriflianity. 
America. miffionary fociety has been eftabliflied in the province of New 
Connecticut, confifting chiefly, if not wholly, of Independents, 
who form there what is called the Standing Order, The objeCt, 
at which they have principally aimed, has been to introduce the 
knowledge of Chriflianity into thofe back fettlements, where, as 
yet, no religious inflitutions have been formed, and where the in- 
habitants in general are grofsly ignorant. In an account of their 
proceedings lately publiflied by this fociety, it appears that very 
conflderable fuccefs had attended the labours of their miflionaries. 
The diflriCts in which they had been chiefly employed were the 
weftern and northern counties of the flate of New York, the 

northern 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



65 



northern parts of Vermont, the north-weft part of Pennfjlvania, ^^j^'^- 

and the recent fettlement called New Connedticut. The readinefs 

and cordiality with which numbers in thefe regions have em- 
braced the great truths of the Gofpel, and the happy effects which 
feem to have been produced on their conduct, leave little room to 
doubt that the divine blelTing has attended the labours of thefe 
miffionaries. 

By letters received in Odlober, 1805, from the Rev. John Ser- 
geant, miflionary to the New Stockbridge Indians near Oneida, it 
appears, that a very pleating occurrence had lately taken place in 
that quarter. About a third part of the Oneida tribe of Indians, 
who had been avowed Pagans, had united themfclves to INIr. Ser- 
geant's congregation. The Indians alfo of the Delaware nation, 
who are numerous, and are confidered as the head of the other 
tribes, " unanimoufly agreed to accept and take hold with both 
" hands" of the offer made to them of introducing among them 
*' civilization and the Chriftian religion." They faid, they were 
ready to receive both a minifter and a fchoolmafter. 

Chriftianity is likely to flourifh amongft the Mohawk Indians, The Mo- 
by the active exertions of Mr. Norton, one of their chiefs ^, ^yho, 
during a refidence of fome months in England in the years 1805 
and 1 8o6, tranflated the Gofpel of St. John into that language, 
the printing of which was aided by " the Britifli and Foreign Bible 
'* Society," and intended on his return to complete the New Tef- 
tament, for the printing of which he has taken out a prcfs to 
America. 

In the ifland of Ceylon, Chriftianity, which had been cftabliflied Ceylon. 



The Indian name of this chief is Teyoninhokarawin. 

K and 



66 



BRIEF HISTORIC VIEW 



CENT, and cheriftied by the Dutch, had been much neglected after the 

'— Enghlh took pofleffion of it, till the arrival of the Honourable 

Frederick North. He interefled himfelf greatly in the difFulion 
of our holy religion ; and, under his aufpices, fchools were efta- 
blifhed in each parifli of the four diftricfs, into which the Britilh 
poffellions are divided ; in which the youth are inftru(3:ed in read- 
ing and writing their own language, and in the principles of 
Chriftianity. There are two or three Clergymen in each of the 
principal diflri6ls, by whom divine fervice for Proteftants is per- 
formed on Sundays, and one native preacher is ftationed in each 
of the lelTer diftridls : fome of thefe latter are men of principle 
and ability, and extremely ufeful. At Columbo, alfo, there is a 
flourifliing academy, divided into three fchools, Cingalefe, Mala- 
bar, and European : the children are taught the Englifli as well as 
the native languages in the moft perfect manner. The Cingalefe 
are fons of their chiefs ; and as they will be well grounded in 
Chriftian principles, their influence and example are likely to be 
productive of the moft happy confequences K 

Concluding We have now in a very rapid and curfory manner traced the 
ebfervations. ^-^^^^ progrefs, and decline, the revival and extenfion of Chriftianity 
in every quarter of the world, from its Rril promulgation to the 
prefent time. To dwell at length on the points which deferve 
attention, with reference to the inquiry with which this brief re- 
view is immediately connected, would be to anticipate the fubjedls 
of the following Diflertation. The light which they are calculated 
to throw on them will, it is prefumed, be clearly perceived in their 
fubfequent difcuffion. In the mean time, it is fufficient to obferve, 

1 See Letter of a Clergyman in Ceylon, 1801. Appendix to the Third Report 
of the Society for Miffions to Africa and the Eaft. 

that 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 



67 



that the civilization of the world has kept pace with the progrefs of cent. 

our divine j^eligion ; that Chriftian nations have in every age con 

fidered it to be their duty to propagate it in unenhghtened regions ; 
that fucccfs has, for the moll part, attended their endeavours, 
when the proper means have been taken to fecure it ; and, that the 
confequences of their exertions, in proportion as they have been 
fuccefsful, have been uniformly beneficial to themfelves, and pro- 
ductive of the moft important bleffings to the favoured objects of 
their benevolence. 



It 2 



A 

DISSERTATION 

ON THE 

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN ASIA. 



PART I. 



ARGUMENT. 



General ohfervations on the Providence of God — heading dejign of 
Divine Providence in the government of the world at large — 
Brief review of facred and profane hi/iory in fupport of it — Ob- 
jeBions to it anfwered — Tranjition to the Britijh Oriental empire 
— Its rife and progrefs — Caufes of its eftahlijhment — Probable 
defign of the divine Providence in befiowing it — Political and 
religious advantages which have already refulted from it to Great 
Bjitain and India — Future civilization and moral improvement 
of AJia by the propagation of Chrijlianity. 



I 



A 

DISSERTATION, &c. 



PART I. 

ON THE PROBABLE DESIGN OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE 
IN SUBJECTING SO LARGE A PORTION OF ASIA 
TO THE BRITISH DOMINION. 



" Tous les grands empires que nous avons vus fur la terre, out concouru par 
divers moyens au bien de la Religion, et a la gloire de Dieu." 

Bojfuct, Dijcours fur I' Hijlo'ire Univ. par, 3. chap. I. 



That the Almighty Creator of the Univerfe upholds by his 
preferving power the world which he has formed, directs it by his 
infinite wifdom, and governs it by his fovereign authority, is a 
truth, which is equally the didate of natural, and of revealed re- 
ligion. The acknowledgment of his fuperintending providence 
cannot, indeed, be juftly feparated from that of his exillence and 
attributes. If we own the being of a God, the firft Caufe of all 
things, and afcribe to him the perfections of omnifcience and om- 
nipotence, it neccflarily follows, that creation, in all its valt ex- 
tent, together with the fucceflive and infinitely diverfificd opera- 
tions, events, and circumrtances, which relate to it, mull be open 
to his view, and fubjecl to his control. 

To 



72 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



®To believers in divine revelation, and w^ith fuch only vt^e are 
concerned, it would, hov^^ever, be wholly unneceflary to enter 
into any long and elaborate proof of this point. Every part of the 
facred Volume contains declarations of the providence of God ; 
and one of its principal defigns is, to confirm and illuftrate that 
^od;rine, with refpe6l both to nations and individuals, by the fadls 
which are there recorded. In the infpired writings, the great 
Author of all things is every where reprefented as being intimate- 
ly prefent to the works of his creating hand. He alone appears 
as the fupreme Difpofer and Governor of the Univerfe, " working 
" all things after the counfel of his own will," and doing " what- 
" foever pleafeth him in the armies of heaven, and amongft the 
" inhabitants of the earth." ^ Without infringing, either on the 
juftice and holinefs of the Deity, or on the freedom and relponfi- 
bility of man, the facred writers uniformly defcribe the multiplied 
events of this lower world, as under the controlling influence of 
the divine Providence. To this directing caufe, they attribute the 
rife and progrefs, the revolutions and fucceffions, the decline and 
fall of Hates and empires ; and to this they refer the changing 
fortunes of families and individuals. From the government of the 
univerfe, according to their reprefentations, chance is therefore 
altogether excluded. The condud of his creatures, whether con- 
fbnant or adverfe to his revealed will, is, in various ways, overruled 
by the fupreme Difpofer of all things ^. Whilfi: they are purfu- 
ing their own narrow and ftiort-lighted fchemes, the providence 
of God reduces the confufed and difcordant mafs of human ac- 
tions to order and harmony ; determines what is to them uncer- 
tain and contingent ; unites what is apparently unconne(fted ; 

' See note H. 

See particularly on this fubjedt the eloquent Conclufions of the Hiftories of 
Boffuet and Rollin. 

bends 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



73 



bends to his own defigns what might be very differently intended 
by man ; and out of this moral chaos, works the purpofes of his 
own wifdom and goodnefs. J 

Before we proceed to a more particular view of this fiibjedl, it 
may be important to advert to what appears to be the leading de- 
fign of the divine Providence in the government of tlie \^'orld at 
large. 

Without entering on the various quelHons which ncceflarily 
arife out of fo extenlive a fubjecT:, it will be fufficient for the pur- 
pofe of the prefent inquiry to tlate, that the grand delign of the 
Almighty, in the various difpenfations of his providence from the 
beginning of the world, has, either immediately or remotely, 
borne a relation to the moral and rehgious improvement of man- 
kind, by the introduction and ellabliihment of the Chrillian reli- 
gion. " The hiftory of redemption," to adopt the language of an 
admirable writer^, " is ^oeval with that of the globe itfelf, has 
" run through every ftage of its exiftence, and will outlall its ut- 
" moll duration. — The fuccefs of mighty conquerors, the policy 
" of dates, the deftiny of empires, depend on the fecret purpofe of 
" God in his Son Jefus ; to ivlioj'c honour all the myjierious luorli- 
" ings of his providence are now, have hitherto been, and will for 
" ever he, direcied^ The truth of this reprefentation may be 
corroborated by an appeal to facred hillory and the fulfilment of 
prophecy, and to the general hillory of the world 

The feparation of the family of Abraham from the furrounding 
nations, their miraculous departure out of Egypt, and the revela- 
tion of the divine will, which was made to their great Jx'gillator, 

« Dr. Hurd, tlie prcfcnt venerable BiOiop of Worcefter. See his Sermon be- 
fore the Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, in the year 
1781. 

•* See note I. 

L amidd 



74 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



amidfl the thunders of mount Sinai ; the expulfion of the idola- 
trous inhabitants of Paleftine, and the fubfequent eftabhftiment of 
the Ifraelites in that promifed land ; are alone decilive proofs of the 
providence of God, and of his defign in forming that peculiar peo- 
ple. The fame important truths are ftrikingly confirmed by the 
hiftory of thofe heathen nations, which were either more or lefs 
connected with the Jews. Thefe, according to the denunciations of 
the Jewifh prophets, were made the inftruments of executing the 
judgments of the Almighty againft his rebellious people ; and 
were, in turn, themfelves chaftifed for their own more flagrant 
idolatry and wicked nefs. But, in the midft of thefe defolating 
judgments, we may trace the hand of the divine Providence in 
the falutary etFecls which refulted from them ; in the radical 
cure of that propenfity to idolatry^, which, till the period of the 
Babylonifh captivity, had marked the charadler of the Jewifh peo- 
ple ; and in the difperfion of their facred writings amongft their 
conquerors. 

The feries of prophecies, which defcribe the rife, progrefs, du- 
ration, and decline of thofe mighty empires, which fucceflively 
arofe in the world, and which, while they tended to ditFufe civi- 
lization and knowledge, were ultimately defigned to be fubfer- 
vient to the purpofes of God concerning his Church, alibrds a fur- 
ther proof and illuftration of the prefent argument. Before the 
termination of the Babylonilh captivity, we may obferve, in exa6t 
accordance with the predidlions of the prophet Daniel, the over- 
throw of that formidable power, which had for ages opprefTed the 
people of God, and the rife of a new empire, whofe moft cele- 
brated monarch reftored them to their country and their wor- 

^ This has been denied, but apparently on infufficient grounds, by the late 
learned Bifhop Horfley, in his tranflation of Hofea. 

Ihip ; 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



75 



fliip ; and whofe fuccelTors continued to proteft them, till they 
alfo were overwhelmed by the refiftlefs arms of the King of jNIa- 
cedon. The conquefts of Alexander the Great, who, together 
with his immediate fucceflbrs, regarded the Jewifh people with 
peculiar favour, were followed by their eftabliflimcnt, not only in 
Alexandria and other parts of Egypt, but in the provinces of Up- 
per Afia, Alia Minor, and Greece. Hence originated the neceflity 
of the Septuagint tranflation of the Jewifh Scriptures, and the 
confequent dilTemination of the knowledge of the true God among 
the Gentiles, and the expectations of the Jews concerning the 
Meffiah. Meanwhile, the fourth great empire of the world, 
which was deftined to accomplifli fo important a part in promot- 
ing the civil and religious improvement of mankind, gradually, 
and almoft imperceptibly, arofe. In the plenitude of Roman 
greatnefs, when the principal nations of the earth were united in 
one vaft empire, the greater part of them in a ftate of civihzation; 
when two celebrated languages almoft univerfally prevailed, and 
the readieft intercourfe was afforded from one extremity of its 
extenfive territories to the other ; the long-expeded Mcflenger of 
the Moft High defcended from heaven, to impart to mankind that 
knowledge, after which they had long been enquiring in vain, 
and which was eflentially conncifled with their prefent and future 
welfare. 

In what manner the providence of God may be difcerned in 
the plantation of the Chriftian Church throughout the world, we 
have aheady feen ^ The circumftances of difficulty and oppofi- 
tion, amidfl: which the Gofpel was firff preached, the feries of 
perfecutions which its difciples fuftained during the firft three 

' See the Brief Hlftoric View of the Propagation of Chriftianity, prefixed to this 
Diflertation. 

L 2 hun- 



76 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



hundred years after its introduction, by which the intrinfic virtue* 
and excellence of Chriltianity were tried and illuftrated ; its efta- 
bhfliment under Contlantine the Great, by which idolatry became 
almoft entirely extinguiflied, and Chriftianity more widely dif- 
perfed and more firmly rooted, previous to the difmemberment of 
the empire ; the gradual converfion of the barbarous nations, by 
which it was puniflied for its former perfecutions, and at length 
gradually fubverted ; all proclaim the fuperintending providence 
of the Almighty Governor of the world, and his defign, in the re- 
volutions and fates of flates and empires, of ellablilhing and ex- 
tending the Chriftian Church, for the moral improvement and 
happinefs of mankind. 

The conquefts of Charlemagne, and the eftablifhment of the 
new empire, were eventually produ6live of fimilar efFedls. The 
revival of literature, after the darknefs of the middle ages, towards 
the clofe of the fifteenth century, which by exciting a fpirit of in- 
quiry and refearch, led the way to that important revolution in 
the Church, which took place in the fucceeding century, may alfo 
be adduced in fupport of the prefent argument. Above all, the 
Reformation, which fpeedily extended itfelf over fo great a part 
of Europe, is one of the moft ftriking proofs of the reality of a di- 
vine Providence, and of its defign in the changes of human affairs, 
which is afforded by the modern hiflory of the world. The union 
of political and religious caufes, which fo remarkably characterized 
this great event, fo far from weakening this view of it, tends 
greatly to illuftrate and ftrengthen it ; by fliewing in how remark- 
able a manner the great Ruler of the world can caufe the various 
and difcordant motives which actuate mankind, to concur in the 
fulfilment of his defigns. In no country was this fuperintending 
conduct of the divine Providence, in the progrefs of the Reforma- 
tion, more iignally apparent, than in our own. Even the inter- 
ruption. 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



7f 



ruption, which was given to the falutary w-ork of reform during 
the temporary prevalence of bigotry and perfecution, ferved only 
to root more deeplv in the minds of men their oppofition to Po- 
pery, and their zeal for Protcftantifm. The difcovery of the New 
World, which added fuch diftinguiflied lullre to the clofe of the 
fifteenth century, opened a new and fplendid fcene, in which the 
traces of the fame divine fuperintendance are ftrikingly vifible. 
In the colonization of North America, during the feventeenth cen- 
tury, by adventurers from this country, we may perceive the ad- 
vancement of mankind in civilization, and the progrefs of that di- 
vine religion, which is the mofi: powerful and fuccefsful inllru- 
ment of promoting it. 

To the preceding view of the providential government of the 
world, y6wc ohjeclious may undoubtedly be made. It is certain, 
that, notwithftanding the evident defign of the divine Providence 
in different ages of the \\'orld rcfpec^ling the Chriftian Church, 
which has been before ffated, the hillory of mankind prefcnls va- 
rious important events, which it is extremely difficult to reconcile 
with it. A formidable objection of this kind may be taken from 
the irruption and extenfive dominion of Mohammedifm in coun- 
tries which had prcvioufly enjoyed the light of Chriffianity. But 
to this it may be replied, that the triumph of the Arabian impof- 
ture was both the natural efFcct, and the judicial puniflimcnt, of 
the corrupt ffate of the Eallern Church in the feventh century ; 
that the contrail between Mohammedifm and Chrillianity is a 
confirmation of the divine origin of the latter ; and that we know 
not for what great and important purpofes this Antichriffian dclu- 
fion has been permitted to prevail. The time, however, feems to 
be approaching, when the veil will be removed from this myf- 
terious difpcnfation of divine Providence. 'J'hc darkncfs and cor- 
ruption 



78 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



ruption of the middle ages, and the entire permiffion of the Papal 
apoftaiy ; the moral ftate of the great continents of Africa and of 
South America, may be further alleged in fupport of the objection 
in queftion. 

In all thefe cafes, the difficulty muft certainly be admitted. But 
it is to be remembered, that fimilar objections may be made as to 
the partial diftribution of natural and civil advantages, and the ge- 
neral conftitution and courfe of nature. Every inquiry into the 
caufes of the difficulties which thus occur both in the natural and 
in the moral world, ultimately refolves itfelf into the queftion con- 
cerning the origin of evil. It may. be fufficient, therefore, to ob- 
ferve, that, notwithftanding the general defign of the fupreme 
Being refpecling the happinefs and improvement of his creatures, 
it is continually liable to be counteracted by t;heir own folly and 
perverfenefs, and to be interrupted by the dilpenfations of his pro- 
vidence, for the purpofe of puniftiing, correcting, and remedying 
the evils of which they have themfelves been the authors. This 
confideration, together with that of our partial views and inca- 
pacity to determine concerning the whole lyftem of the divine go- 
vernment, are the legitimate and decitive anfwers to the objections 
which have been thus briefly noticed. 

But to refume our view of the operations of divine Providence. 

The entire hiftory of our highly favoured country forms one 
continued feries of inftances of divine fuperintendence^; and in no 
part of it more remarkably than in that which relates to the ex- 
tenfive and flourifliing empire which it has, during the laft cen- 
tury, been gradually acquiring in the Eaft. 

e See th^is fubje6l admirably unfolded and illuftrated by Mrs. H. More in her 
late work, Hints towards forming the Character of a Young Princefs," vol. ii. 
chap. 38, 39. 

Scarcely 



« 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 7§ 

Scarcely oqe hundred years have elapfed, fince the firft com- 
mercial grant was made to the Britifh merchants trading to India, 
by the Emperor Ferokfere. The delcendant of that monarch, 
and the reprefentative of the mighty Tamerlane, is ?iow reduced 
to the humiliating necctlity of deriving his fole protection and 
fupport from the power and the generofity of the Britifli govern- 
ment. Early in the eighteenth century, the Englifli and the 
French were nearly on an equality, as rivals and competitors for 
the fuperiority in India ; but within the fliort fpace of twenty 
years, from 1/41 to 1 760, the former had obtained fo decided a 
preponderance, that the influence of the latter may be faid to have 
been nearly annihilated. Subfequent attempts to recover their 
influence have been uniformlv baflled and defeated, and have 
tended only to confirm and extend our oriental power. At the 
commencement of the fame period, the Englifli, in common with 
other European nations, held, by a precarious tenure, a few limited 
factorial poflcfllons on the coafl;. Their territories at the prefent 
moment comprehend nearly one half of Hinduftan, and the De- 
can, while their power and influence have become paramount over 
the whole peninfula. From Cape Comorin to the imperial city 
of Delhi, a traA of country two thoufand five hundred miles in 
length, containing flxty millions of native inhabitants, the Britifli 
dominion is fovereign and uncontrolled. 

In taking even the mofl: curfory view of the Britifli empire in 
India, it is fcarcely pofllble to avoid being fl:ruck with the con- 
trafl in its hillory which has been thus briefly exhibited, and with 
the extraordinary and rapid manner in which that empire has 
been acquired. 7b w}iat caujc are we to attribute the preemi- 
nence which it has thus obtained ? Much is, doubtlcfs, to be 
afcribcd to the prudence, the fagacity, the forcfight of our go- 
vernors ; to the Ikili of our military and naval commanders, and 

to 







80 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



to the undaunted bravery of our troops, in the various critical and 
arduous circumftances in which thej have been engaged. But 
thefe are merely fecondarj and inftrumental caufes, the vilible and 
human means bj which the work has been accomphfhed. The 
view which has already been given of the direding and controlling 
agency of the divine Providence is fufficient to turn our attention 
to the tirft great caufe of our Eaft Indian fucceffes. Without de- 
termining the juftice, or afluming the divine approbation of our 
proceedings, we can be at no lofs to whom to afcribe our unexam- 
pled progrefs in Atia. To that fupreme Ruler, who holds in his 
hands the reins of the univerfe ; who, as one of the proudeft po- 
tentates the world ever faw was once compelled to acknowledge, 
regulates the deftinies of ftates and kingdoms, mull be attributed 
the empire which has been thus obtained. To Him muft be 
afcribed the defeat of the counfels and the enterprifes of our ene- 
mies ; the almofi; uninterrupted fucceiles of our policy and our 
arms ; the wifdom and the courage which have marked our Ori- 
ental enterprifes. 

An obvious and important inquiry, however, arifes out of the 
preceding reprefentation, as to the probable dejign of the divine Pro- 
vidence in fubjeBing fo large a portion of Afia to the BritiJIi domi- 
nion. On no fubjedl are we more liable to err, than in the opi- 
nions or the conjediures which we may venture to form concerning 
the intentions of the fupreme Being. Clearly as the will of the 
Almighty is revealed to us in the Scriptures, it is chiefly confined 
to the general principles of the divine government, his dilpolitions 
towards his creatures, and the duties which he requires from them. 
Of his idtimate defigns refpe6ting either nations or individuals, no 
account is given, nor could it be juftly expected. Thefe are 
amongfl " the fecret things" which belong only to the moft High.. 
It is fufficient for us to be afTured, that, though " clouds and dark- 

" nefs 



OF THE DIMNE PROVIDENCE. 



81 



nefs are round about him, righteoufnefs and judgment are the 
" habitation of his throne." What, therefore, may be the J'ccret 
and final dcjign of the divine Providence in bellowing upon Great 
Britain fo extenfive an Oriental dominion, and what the remote 
cojifcquences of its exitlence and continuance, as forefcen by the 
mind of that glorious Being, " knov^^n unto whom are all his 
" works from the beginning of the world," it would be equally 
prefumptuous and vain to inquire. To fuch refearches it may be 
juftly faid, " He that prefleth into the light lliall be opprefled 
" with glory." The duty and the intereft of man are of a hum- 
bler nature. From the general declarations of holy Writ, illuf- 
trated and confirmed as they are by the hiftory of former ages, and 
the events which ar^? palTing before our eyes, fufficient light may 
be afforded to guide us both to a fafe and beneficial conclufion. 
We have taken a brief and rapid furvey of the v^ ays of Provi- 
dence from the earliefi; ages. We have before us, in the clear 
and unimpeachable page of facred hifliory, a long and uninter- 
rupted feries of difpenfations, by which the great empires of the 
world w^ere made fuccefiively to promote the general civilization 
and happinefs of mankind, and, more efpecially, to advance the 
progrefs of true religion in the world. The avarice and am- 
bition of heathen monarchs, under the controlling influence of 
the fupreme Difpofer, have unwillingly been made to bend to 
the accomplifliment of his wife and benevolent defigns. Caufcs 
and inllruments apparently the moll adverfe and unconnected, 
and events feemingly the moll untoward, have been rendered the 
means of producing etTects the mod beneficial and important to 
the human race. 

What, then, is the conclufion which obvioully rcfults from 
thefc confiderations ? Can it be, that the divine Providence has 
in fuch a remarkable manner liibjccled fo large a portion of Afia 

M to 



82 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



to the Britifh dominion, merely for the purpofc of gratifying the 
pride or the ambition of our country ; of aggrandizing our 
' power, our wealth, or our refources ? Nay, even of opening to 
us, by the extention of our commerce, the means of more fuc- 
cefsfully refitting, in the prefent perilous and critical times, the 
formidable and increafing power of our European enemy ? Was 
it for this only, that it has pleafed the Almighty Ruler of the 
nations, to watch over the rifing interefts of Great Britain in 
the Eaft, to fofter its infant fettlements, to proted them from 
the fecret machinations, and the open attacks, of their invete- 
rate foes ; to difpofe the native princes of India in general to 
prefer the Britilh alliance ; to beftow on the plains of ^ PlalTey, 
Porto-Novo, and Delhi, victories, which equal the moft cele- 
brated military exploits of ancient or of modern times ; and, by 
the combination of thefe circumftances, to give fo early and de- 
cided a fuperiority to Great Britain, not only over the French, 
but over every other rival power in India ? With the principles 
which have been before laid down, and the means which we pof- 
fefs of afcertaining their truth, we cannot, furely, be induced to 
form fo arrogant and fo limited a conclufion. We may, indeed, 
and we ought, gratefully to acknowledge the important political 
and commercial advantages, which refult to this country from our 
Oriental dominion, more particularly in the prefent extraordinary 
fituation of Europe ; but it ill becomes us to limit our views to 
confiderations of this nature. 

" Providence," to ufe the language of Sir William Jones, " has 
thrown thefe Indian territories into the arms of Britain, for 
*' their protedion and welfare';" and they have already derived 

' The celebrated vi£lories obtained by Lord Clive, Sir Eyre Coote, and Lord 
Lake. 

' See Lord Teignmouth's Life of Sir William Jones, Vol. IL p. 337. 

invaluable 



OF THE DmNE PROVIDENCE. 



83 



invaluable bleffings from her. They have palled from the bar- 
barous and oppreffive defpotifm of their Mohammedan con- 
querors, to the mild, and equitable, and liilutary government 
of this ifland. Encouragement has been afforded, by the Britifli 
commerce, for the exercife of their indullrv in arts, manufac- 
tures, and agriculture. The great body of the people have 
been refcued from the arbitrary and infatiable exactions of na- 
tive governors and magiftrates ; and, inliead of an annually va- 
rying tribute, exacted often at the difcretion of the pubUc officers, 
and increafing with the ability of the landholder to pay it, the 
amount of the revenue demanded by the Company has been fixed 
in perpetuity, leaving to the economy, Ikill, and induftry of indi- 
viduals, all the benefit derivable from the exertion of thole qua- 
lities. 

The regular and impartial adminijlration of jujiice is an- 
other eminent advantage, which has refulted to India from her 
fubjedion to Great Britain. To eftimate the full value of this ad- 
vantage, we mull recollect the corruption whidi very generally 
pervaded the courts of jurtice under Mohammedan authority ; in 
which the influence of power and wealth was irrefillible to fo in- 
tolerable a degree, that the poor could rarely obtain rcdrefs for the 
moll flagrant injuries committed by a powerful or rich oppreflbr. > 
The adminiftration of civil, criminal, and even financial jurifdic- 
tion was frequently vefted in the fame perlbn. At all times, the 
diftribution of jullice was too mucli fubjecl to the difcretion of 
the judge; and the record of his proceedings, when made, was 
fummary and imperfcd;. Inflcad of this vexatious and indefinite 
courfc, a regular fyllem has been eftabliflied. The furiolions of 
the civil judge are fcparated from thofe of the local magiflrate ; 
the proceedings of both, as well as thofe of the courts for the trial 
of criminal caufes, are regulated by fixed rules ; and a corredl re- 

w 2 cord 



84 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



cord of them is preferved. A fjftem of appeal in civil fuits 
has been inllituted ; the proceedings in criminal caufes, where the 
fentence affeds the Hfe or liberty of the convid beyond a limited 
period, are fubje61: to the revilion of a fuperior court, before the 
fentence can be executed ; and the regulations, by which all 
ad", are publifhed in the native languages. The Britifh govern- 
ment, agreeably to the di6lates of a wife policy, has adopted the 
criminal code of the Mohammedans, which it found eftablifhed, 
and which is not only more familiar, but better fuited to the na- 
tives, than our own ; but it - has, at the fame time, aboiifhed the 
more fanguinary punifhments of impaling, and the amputation of 
limbs. Civil caufes relating to Catie and inheritance are tried by 
the refpedive laws of Hindus and Mohammedans. The juftly ce- 
lebrated Digell of Hindu and Mohammedan Law ^, which was * 
compiled under the direction of Sir William Jones, a labour which 
endeared him to the natives, while it tended to fliorten his inva- 
luable life, has contributed moft eflentially to the due adminiftra- 
tion of juftice. Various other Indian and Mohammedan law- 
tra6ls have been tranflated, and every precaution, w^hich a found 
policy could fuggeft, has been adopted to enfure this great 
objed:, to prevent impofitions, and to correal erroneous judg- 
ments ; and it may be truly afferted, that the bulk of the people 
derive a fecurity in their peribns and property from thefe mea- 
fures, which they never enjoyed under any former government. 

Many other important benefits have refulted to the natives of 
India, in confequence of the Britifli government. A degree of 
order and tranquillity prevails in the neighbourhood of the Eng- 
lifli fettlements, which was before unknown ; while the employ- 
ment and the regular payment of the labouring clafles have en- 

^ See, relative to this important work. Lord Teignniouth's Life of Sir William 
Jones, Vol. IL pp. i8o, 362, 344. 

abled 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



So 



abled multitudes of them to fupport themfelves and their famihes 
in circumtlances of comfort, experienced in no other part of the 
country. Various public works have been executed, and charita- 
ble inftitutions formed, by the Britifh government in India, which 
have largely contributed to the relief and comfort of the natives ; 
and in times of fcarcity, its forefight and liberality have been the 
means of refcuing thoufands of its wretched fubjecls from the mi- 
ferable efFecls of famine'. It is, alfo, undeniable, that a bene- 
ficial influence has been gradually extending itfelf over the in- 
habitants of India, in confequence of their intercourfe with the 
Britifli ; by which their focial habits and manners have been ma- 
terially improved. The diflindions which are occafioned by their 
religious faith do, indeed, preclude them from fully participating 
in this advantage. Yet, notwithflanding thefe oblhiclcs to a more 
intimate union, fome benefit has imperceptibly been imparted, and 
is daily increafing in extent and importance. 

The preceding obfcrvations may be fufficicnt to fliew, that 
great and numerous advantages of a political nature have already 
refulted both to Great Britain and India, from the intimate con- 
nection which fubfifts between them. But this is neither all, nor 
is it, probably, the chief point, to which it was the intention of 
the propofer of the prefent quellion to direA the public attention. 
Reciprocal benefits, of a moral ami religious vuture, have alfo 
partly accrued to both countries by their mutual intercourfe, and 
llill greater are juftly expedted to follow. Hitherto, it mull be 
confelled, the preponderance of advantage, perhaps of every kind, 
has been greatly in favour of Britain. Even in a religious point 
of view, we have fome obligations to acknowledge to our Oriental 

' See on this fubjcdl a very intercfting cxtraft from an addrcfs of Sir James 
M'liitolh to tlic Grand Jury of Bombay, in Dr. Tcnnant's Tlioughts on the Bri- 
tifli Government in India, p. 115. 

domi" 



86' 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



dominions. Indian chronology, hiftorj, and mythology, were, it 
is well known, during many years, conlidered as the ftrong hold 
of French infidelity ; and even amongft: ourfelves, there were not 
wanting writers who favoured the delufion, by fceptical dilTerta- 
tions on thofe fubjeds But, as it has been obferved by a diftin- 
guiflied writer, " there is a Providence which controls all human 
" events, and brings good out of evil : and it is this Providence 
" which feems to have permitted the attacks of infidelity, in order 
" to give greater evidence to the faith it oppofes It cannot, 
therefore, be efteemed a trifling or unimportant advantage, not- 
withlianding the numerous and irrefragable evidences in favour of 
Chriitianity, that our connexion with India has for ever difpelled 
this delufion ; that it has proved, beyond all poffibility of doubt, 
that the Indian records, fo far from oppofing or undermining the 
foundations of the Mofaic or the Chrifi:ian difpenfation, have 
added to the proofs already pofi^efled of their divine origin, that 
which arifes from feveral remarkable coincidences, and other di- 
red: and indired evidences in fupport of both, from the Hindu re- 
cords. The indefatigable exertions, firfl:, of Sir William Jones, 
and his fellow labourers, in the mine of Indian literature and fci- 
ence, and, afterwards, of the learned members of the College of 
Fort William, have placed this point beyond all doubt and have 
thus been infi:ruments of conferring a mofl; important benefit on 
the Chrifl;ian world. 

Have we, then, nothing to offer to India in return for this ad- 
vantage ? Some feeble and limited efforts have, as we have feen ^, 
been made to impart to her natives the blefiings of Chriflianity ; 

' See particularly the Preface to the Code of Gentoo Laws, by Mr. Halhed. 
" Dr. White, Bampton Leftures, Sermon I. page 40. 

" On this fubjeft, a paffage in Dr. Buchanan's Memoir may be advantageoufly 
Gonfulted, page 44. 

° See Brief Hiftoric View prefixed. 

but 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



87 



but as a general and national work, it remains, as yet, unat- 
tempted. It may, perhaps, be the defign of the divine Providence, 
in granting us fo extenfive an Oriental dominion, to place us, as we 
know is the cafe with refpe6l to all other advantages, whether civil 
or religious, in a fituation of trial to obferve what courfe we will 
take as to the difleraination of Chriftian principles. The circum- 
ftances of our connexion with India are, however, too llriking 
to require any laboured expolition of this point. Great Britain is, 
at this time, the nation which pofleffes in the greateft purity, ac- 
companied by the greateft zeal, the Chriftian religion. What, 
therefore, is the conclution to be drawn from her fituation with 
refpedl to India ? Is it not, to fay the leaft, highly probable, that 
the providence of God, which we have feen fo remarkably exer- 
cifed for this purpofe in former ages, fliould at this time bring fo 
large a portion of Afia, as it were, into contad with this enliglit- 
ened nation, ^or the very purpofe of exciting us to the honourable 
undertaking of imparting to it, in addition to political advantages, 
the moral and religious bleffings which we enjoy ? and, that from 
India, as from a centre of communication and influence, the fame 
ineftimable benefits may be ditfufed throughout the continent of 
Afia > 

It may be further argued, that the dereliction or the depra- 
vation of Chriftian principles, which has been witnefled on the 
continent of Europe fince the French revolution, and which, not- 
withftanding the reeftablifliment of the Roman Catholic faith in 
France, continues, it is to be feared, too nearly the fame, indicate 
to us, who have been prcferved from the general contamination of 
infidelity, and who exliibit, beyond all qucftion, the purcft exam- 
ple of a Chriftian Church now cxllling in the world, the direction 
of divine Providence, to teftify both our gratitude and our zeal, by 

f Sec Bifliop Butler's Analogy. 

attempting 



88 



PROBABLE DESIGN 



attempting to eftablifli in our Oriental empire the faith which we 
have cherillied in Europe, and which has elfewhere been fo de- 
|)lorably abandoned or corrupted. 

The very local fituation of that empire may be allowed to have 
fome influence on our minds. ^' The great fcene of revelation," 
to adopt the glowing expreffions of a learned and eloquent writer' 
already referred to, " has been the Eaft. There the fource of ge- 
nuine inlpiration was firft opened ; and from thence the ftreams 
of divine knowledge began to flow. It was the grand theatre, 
" on which the Almighty Governor of the world made bare his 
" arm, and, by ligns, and wonders, and mighty deeds, ellablifhed 
the conviction of his righteous providence and fupreme domi- 
nion in the hearts of men. There he led the people of Ifrael 
*' like a flock by the hand of Mofes and Aaron ; there the Pro- 
" phets uttered their predidiions ; and there the Son of God illuf- 
" trated and fulfilled them. But there, alfo, has the impofl:or Ma- 
*' homet ere(fted his llandard ; that fl:andard to which thoufands 
have flocked, with an ardour which may well raife a blufli ou 
the countenances of too many who pretend to fight under the 
banner of the crofs." There alfo, if we may prefume to add any 
thing to fo eloquent a pafl^age, the yet more ignorant, though 
fcarcely more deluded and debafed, votaries of Brahma have, 
through the flill longer lapfe of ages, groaned beneath the fetters 
of the Cafle, and been enflaved by the mofl; abjed; idolatry and fu- 
perflition. 

We owe, then, a debt of gratitude to the Eaft, as the primae- 
val fource of nature and revelation, which we have hitherto 
been tardy in acknowledging. The Oriental world has, indeed, 
witnefl^ed the triumphs of our arms, the fuccefl^es of our pohcy, 
and the general mildnefs and equity of our civil and judicial ad- 

Dr. White, Bampton LeSures, Sermon I. page 42. 

miniftration. 



OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



69 



minillration. But a higher deftiny yet awaits us. Providence is 
evidently calling us to fervices ftill more glorious and important, 
becaufe ftill more directly coincident with the defigns of infinite 
Wifdom, and more immediately conneAed with the happinefs of 
mankind. To the Britifli government is the diftinguiffied oppor- 
tunity prefented, of eredling in India, and throughout Afia, the 
banner of the Crofs ; of refcuing from the darknefs of Hindu and 
Mohammedan fuperftition the millions which are now involved in 
it ; and of caufing the " Day-Spring from on high" to vifit them. 

Every circumftance which can be adduced leads us almoft ne- 
ceflarily to this conclufion. The general defign of the Almighty 
in the government of the world, which we have already noticed ; 
our extenfive and uncontrolled dominion in India ; the increafed 
confidence and lefiening prejudices of the natives ; our more inti- 
mate acquaintance with their religion, laws, literature, and fci- 
ence ; and the very direclion of the public attention to this fub- 
jeA at the prefent time ; all concur in fhewing the leading defign 
of the divine Providence, in fubjedling fo large a portion of Afia to 
our dominion, to be the diffujlon of Chrl/lian knowledge amongft 
the many millions of its unenlightened inhabitants, as the means 
of promoting their temporal and eternal welfare and happinefs. 
They point out, at all events, the nature of our duty, which is, 
perhaps, the beft and nearelt indication of the divine will which 
can either be expected or dcfired. 



N 



A 

DISSERTATION 

ON THE 

PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY 

IN ASIA. 



PART II. 



ARGUMENT. 



General ohfervations on the introduBion of Religion into conquered 
countries — Roma?i policy — that of Conjiantine, and of Jiicceeding 
Chrijiian Princes — ConduB of the Mohammedan conquerors — 
that of the Roman Catholic Mngdoms of Europe. Duty of Great 
Britain to promote Chrijlianity in the Eq/i, on the ground of re- 
ligious obligation- — of its power and opportunity — of the moral 
fate of the natives of Hindufan, and of other Afatic countries — 
and of the benefits luhich would refult from it both to Great Bri- 
tain and Afia — Difficulties and impediments as to the execution 
of this worh — PraSiicability of accomplijhing it. 



A 

DISSERTATION, See. 



PART II. 

ON THE DUTY, MEANS, AND CONSEQUENCES OF TRANS- 
LATING THE SCRIPTURES INTO THE ORIENTAL 
LANGUAGES, AND OF PROMOTING CHRISTIAN 
KNOWLEDGE IN ASIA. 



" — What can be called good and necessary by Chriflians, if it be not lb, to 
" fupport Chriftianity where it ninft otherwife fink, and propagate it where it niuft 
" otherwife be unknown ; to reftrain abandoned, barefaced vice ; and to take care 
" of the education of fuch children, as otherwife mufl; be even educated in wicked- 
'* nefs, and trained up to deftru6lion ?" Bishop Butler. 



CHAP. I. 

T%e Duty of tranjlating the Scriptures into the Oriental languages, 
ami of promoting Chrijlian hioiuledge in Afia. 

The fate of conquered nations refpefting religion has varied, 
according to the principles and the policy of the victorious power. 
In one point, conquerors of all ages have unhappily agreed; name- 
ly, in confulting, in the firft inllance, the ellablirtiment of their 

own 



94 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



own authority, and the advancement of their own interell: ; and 
in conlidering the welfare of the vanquiihed only as a fecondary 
objed:. Religion, therefore, in common with every other circum- 
ftance relative to their new fubjedls, has been treated with indif- 
ference, perfecuted, or encouraged, according to the political views 
of the victors. 

The policy of the Roman Republic led her to confider the 
various fuperftitions of the countries fucceffively fubdued by her 
reliftlefs arms, as a mere adventitious circumftance, like that of 
language or colour, which could neither tend materially to con- 
folidate, nor to lelTen or undermine, her newly acquired powen 
The conquered provinces were left in the undifturbed worfhip of 
their feveral gods, and in the enjoyment of their religious obferv- 
ances. This was a line of conduct perfectly confonant to the na- 
ture of Polytheifm, and evidently dictated by found policy. Their 
own idolatrous fyllem had nothing in it of the jealous and digni- 
fied exclufion of true religion. On the contrary, it readily afiimi- 
lated itfelf to the multiplied errors of other nations ; and the 
union tended to promote the intercourfe and to cement the in- 
terefts of both. 

When Chriftianity was introduced into the world, its firft 
requifition to the Gentile nations was the utter renunciation of 
their former deities, together with every trace of their idola- 
trous worfhip, and fuperftitious pradlices. Hence arofe the op- 
pofition which Chriftianity every where met with, and the long 
leries of perfecutions which it endured during the three firfi: cen- 
turies. On its ellablilhment, however, as the religion of the em- 
pire, Conliantine, and his immediate fucceffors, ftiewed a lauda- 
ble zeal in abolifhing the Gentile idolatry, and effediing a general 

profeffion 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



95 



profeffion of Chriftianity. And for many fucceeding ages it con- 
tinued to be the aim, as it was the undoubted policy, of Chrillian 
fovereigns, to convert their heathen fubjedls, whether native or 
conquered, and to promote Chriftian knowledge in their domi- 
nions ^. It is true, that in thefe attempts they were frequently 
unwife, not to fay fometimes iniquitous, in their choice of means 
to efFecl them ; but the general principle of their condudt was, 
undoubtedly, both juft and benevolent. 

The Mohammedan conquerors, as it is well known, invariably 
propagated the delufions of their impoftor, wherever they carried 
their vi6lorious arms ; and firmly eftabliflied the religion of the 
Koran in every conquered country. 

The Roman Catholic kingdoms of Europe had no fooncr 
founded their extenlive empires in the New World, than they 
provided for the continuance of the faith amongft their Eu- 
ropean fubje(3:s, and for the converfion of the natives, by an ec- 
cleHaftical eftablifliment, and by millions from feveral of the mo- 
naftic orders. In Afia, alfo, fmiilar eftablifliments were formed, 
coeval with their fettlements ; and although the Oriental em- 
pires both of the Spaniards and Portuguefe are in a ftate of ruin, 
the Romifli Church and its revenues remain in a great meafure 
unimpaired. 

Great Britain alone, the moll eminent of the Proteflant king- 
doms of Europe, has hitherto been unmindful of the religious 
ftate of her Eaftern empire, and has delayed to acknowledge 
the debt of gratitude which llie owes to that fuperintending Pro- 

■ See Brief Ilifloric \'iew prefixixl. 

videncc, 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



vidence, by which her power has been attained. On the con- 
tinent of America, and in her Weft India iflands, eccleliaftical 
eftablifhments have been provided, and fome attempts have been 
made towards the converfion and inftruAion of the aboriginal na- 
tives. In India alone has Ihe withheld this juft and falutary affift- 
ance ^. A fcanty and ill fupplied eftablifliment of Chaplains is all 
that has yet been afforded for her European fubje6ts ; whilll the 
natives, with the exception of the Proteftant miffions before men- 
tioned, have been left to the influence of their unhallowed and de- 
fi:ru6live fuperftitions, without any dire6l effort having been made 
to improve their moral and religious condition. 

I. It can fcarcely be doubted, by any one who acknowledges 
the divine authority of Chriftianity, whether it be the duty of a 
nation profefling the purity of its holy faith, to extend the know- 
ledge of it to any country, which, by the favour of divine Provi- 
dence, may be fubjeAed to its dominion. It is clearly a duty, not 
only refulting from the pofitive precepts, but flowing from the 
very nature and fpirit of Chriftianity. 

The command to love our neighbour as ourfelves, which is in- 
terpreted by our divine Lawgiver himfelf to include all mankind, 
together with that of aAing towards others as we would wifh 
them to a6t towards us, are alone fuflicient to eftablifh this point. 
But, to adopt the fentiments of a great writer ^, " Chriftianity is 
" very particularly to be confidered as a trujl, depofited with us 
^' in behalf of others; in behalf of mankind, as well as for our 

^ See Dr. Buchanan's Memoir, part i. chap, i, 3. 

<^ Bifhop Butler. Sermon before the Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel 
in Foreign Parts. 

" own 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



97 



" own inftruclion. No one has a right to be called a Chriftian, 
" who doth not do fomewhat in his ftation, towards the difcharge 
" of this truft ; who doth not, for inflance, affift in keeping up 
the profeffion of Chriftianity where he lives. And it is an ob- 
** ligation but little more remote, to airift in doing it in our 
" faAories abroad ; and in the colonies to which we are related, 
" by their being peopled from our own mother-country, and be- 
" ing fubjedls to the fame government with ourfelves: and nearer 
" yet is the ohUgatwn upon fuch perfons in particular, as have the 
" intcrcourfe of an advantageous commerce ivith them. The like 
" charity (i. e. of religious inftrudion) we owe to the natives ; owe 
" to them in a much Jlrider fenfe than we are apt to confider, 
" were it only from neighbourhood, and our having gotten pojfef- 
fions in their country. We are moft ftriclly bound to confider 
" thefe poor unformed creatures, as being in all refpecls of one 
" family with ourfelves, the family of mankind; and inrtrud them 
" in our ' common falvation :' that they may not pafs through 
" this ftage of their being like brute beads ; but be put into a ca- 
" pacity of moral improvements, how low foever they muft re- 
" main as to others, and fo into a capacity of qualifying them- 
" felves for an higher ftate of life hereafter." It is not, therefore, 
left to our opinion or choice, whether, \\ hen we have the oppor- 
tunity, we fliould endeavour to diffeminate Chriltian principles, 
upon a larger or a finaller fcale. It is a duty enforced by the aw- 
ful fan6tions of our religion ; the wilful negle6l of which is both 
an a6l of difobedience to God, and a breach of charity to man. 

Chriftian kings and governors are intended to be the inftru- 
ments, under God, of protecting his Church, and of promot- 
ing his gracious defigns in extending it throughout the world. 
In the language of a facred prophet, they are deftined to be its 

o " nurfing 



98 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



" nurfing fathers ;" and as Chriftianity is, from its nature and 
conftitution, defigned to be univerfal in its extent, the powers 
which fubmit to its authority, and profefs to value its bleflings, 
are bound by the moll folemn obligations, to encourage the pro- 
pagation of it by all lawful means, in countries over which they 
exercife a voluntary dominion, as well as to maintain it in thofe 
in which it is already ellabliflied. 

It has, indeed, been faid, that we have no right to interfere 
with the religion of other nations; that it is unjuft and illiberal to 
oppofe or diflurb them in their modes of faith ; much more, to 
take any efFedlual meafures for engaging them to embrace our 
own. So far as this objection refpe^ts independent countries, or 
thofe which, although agreeing in the main points of the religion 
itfelf, differ from the exifting government as to matters of inferior 
importance, or the adoption, in either or any cafe, of violent, 
compulfory, and perfecuting meafures, it may be readily granted. 
But if it be referred, as in the prefent cafe, to territories fubje6l to 
the dominion of a Chrittian country, the natives of which are in- 
volved in the darknefs of a fuperflition, which, as it is impoffible 
to deny, is productive of the moll pernicious confequences, the 
objection can only arife from principles of infidelity, or from 
total indifference to religion. Such a nation has not only a right 
to interfere with the religion of its fubjeCl-provinces, but it is its 
paramount duty to take every meafure, which a mild and en- 
lightened policy can fuggeft, for emancipating them from the mi- 
fery of their idolatrous pradtices. 

The obligation to this important work is greatly increafed, if to 
thefe confiderations be added thofe which arife from the cir- 
cumjiances of time and opportunity, the combination of which, as 

we 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



9^ 



we have already obferved, forms a ftriking indication of the defign 
of divine Providence in our connection v^ith Afia^. 

IT. The argument, however, in fupport of the duty of a nation 
profeffing Chrillianity to promote the knowledge of it in countries 
fubjecl to its power, may be ftrongly enforced by the conlldera- 
tion of the political and moral Jiate of the inhabitants of thofe 
countries. 

It has been cuftomary with European authors to extol the an- 
cient civilization, and to reprefent in glowing colours the virtues, 
and the improved ftate, of the natives of India. Traces undoubt- 
edly exift in their remaining works of art, fcience, and literature, 
which feem to prove, that ^ how degenerate and debafed foever 
" the Hindus may now appear, in fome early age, they were 
" fplendid in arts and arms, happy in government, wife in legifla- 

tion, and eminent in various knowledge," It is certain, alfo, 
that, " in fpite of their many revolutions and conquefts, their 
" fources of wealth are ftill abundant, and that in many of their 
" manufactures they ftill furpafs all the world." Yet, notwith- 
ftanding this flattering tcllimony of our illuftrious Orientalift, 
there is no appearance, that, with refpe6l to the great body of the 
people, India at any former time greatly excelled that degree of 
civilization, fuch as it is, which exifts at this day. The celebrated 
hiftorian of America, in his elaborate Difquifltion concerning An- 
cient India, has, in a fimilar manner, produced fatisfadlory evi- 
dence of the high degree of excellence to which the ancient Hin- 
dus had attained in various fpecies of manufacture, and in many 

The peculiar advantages and facilities now poflcflcd by Great Britain for pro- 
moting Chriftian knowledge in Afia will be hereafter Hated. 
' See Sir William Jones's Diflertation on the Hindus. 

O 2 of 



100 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



of the necelTary and ornamental arts of life. Their advances, 
alfo;, in fcience and literature, in philofophy, morals, and reli- 
gion, are defcribed in glowing colours. Thefe reprefentations, 
however, muft be received with confiderable allowance, even fo 
far as they refpe6t the higher clalTes of the Hindus : but as to 
the great body of the people, who, as he feems to think, are, 
even now, advanced far beyond the inhabitants of the two other 
quarters of the globe in improvement, they are manifeftly erro- 
neous. 

" It is true," obferves the learned propofer of the prefent fub- 
je<ft ^, " that the natives excel in the manual arts of their call ; 
" and that fome of them, particularly thofe who are brought up 
" amongft Europeans, acquire a few ideas of civility and general 
*' knowledge. But the bulk of the common people, from Cape 
" Comorin to Thibet, are not an improved people. Go into a vil- 
" lage, within five miles of Calcutta, and you will find an ignorance 
" of letters and of the world, an intelledlual debility, a wretched- 
" nefs of living, and a barbarifm of appearance, which by every 
" account, (making allowance for our regular government, and 
** plentiful country,) are not furpalTed among the natives in the 

interior of Africa, or back fettlements of America^." Although 
the latter part of this defcription will probably be thought too 
firong, another eye-witnefs of their manners has obferved, that 
the poverty, depreflion, and general ignorance of the Hindus are 
the features of their condition, which firfi: ftrike the attention of 
every llranger ^. Thefe evils necefilirily flow from the ftru6lure 
of their political fociety. The arbitrary divifion of the Hindus 



f Memoir, note G. p. no. 
^ Tennant's Thoughts, p. 72. 



s See Park and Mackenzie. 

into 



CHRISTL^^TY IN ASIA. 



101 



into four dirtinct Caftes, operates as a permanent check to the im- 
provement of their condition, and condemns the great body of 
the people to poverty and wretched nefs. Thefe unnatural dif- 
tindlions of claffes deprive them of every motive to induftry and 
exertion. The moll honourable and virtuous conduci fecures no 
reward to a perfon of the lower Caftes, and thofe of the higher 
order lofe no reputation or privilege by being ignorant and vi- 
cious. The whole community being thus deprived both of hope 
and fear, the great motives of human aAion, its different orders 
are contented to remain in the condition in which they are placed, 
and every avenue to improvement is effedlually precluded. 

The moral charaBer of the Hindus has been as much miftaken 
as their progrefs in civilization. A mild, benevolent, and inoffen- 
five difpofition has been attributed to them, which more intimate 
knowledge and experience have unhappily difproved. The chief 
quality refembling virtue, which charaAerizes the Hindus, is a 
certain apathy or hebetude of mind, which renders them fub- 
miffive to authority. But this is obvioufly a quality which fits 
them equally for the reception of vicious impreflions, and indif- 
pofes them to the exercife of any virtuous energy. " Thofe who 
" have known them," fays Dr. Buchanan, " for the longeft time, 
" concur in declaring, that neither truth, nor honefty, honour, 
" gratitude, nor charity, is to be found pure in the breaft of a 
" Hindu." The teftimonies which he adduces in fupport of this 
opinion muft be allowed to be unqueftionable'*. Other competent 
witneffes have not hefitated to aflert, that avarice, lying, perfi- 
dioufnefs, cruelty, indolence, and fervility, arc the predominant 

See them detailed in his Memoir, note I. particularly thofe of Tamerlane and 
Mr. Hohvell. 

features 



101 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



features of the Hindu charader " Avarice,'" fays a learned and 
elegant hiftorian " is the predominant palTion of the Hindu ; 
" and all his wiles, addrefs, cunning, and perfeverance, of which 
" he is fo exquilite a mafter, are exerted to the utmoft in fulfiUing 
" the didates of this vice." The crime of perjury is fo remarka- 
bly prevalent among them, that Sir William Jones, notwithftand- 
ing his llrong prejudice in their favour, after long judicial ex- 
perience, was obliged reludantly to acknowledge this moral de- 
pravity of the natives of India. 

Thefe concurring tellimonies are decifive of the queftion ; and 
may ferve to corred the miftaken opinions which the enthufiaftic 
reprefentations of theoretical writers have dilTeminated in Europe, 
and to remove one of the moft prevalent and powerful objedions 
againfl; any attempt to improve the natives of Hinduftan. 

The caujes of this debafed ftate of the moral charader in the 
Hindus may evidently be traced partly to the defpotic form of the 
government under which they have lived, but principally to their 

1 See the Preface to Mr. Gilchritt's Englifh and Hinduftanl Diclionary, and a 
Letter from an intelligent Refident in India to Dr. Vincent, in the Proceedings 
of the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge for the year 1800. 

Mr. Orme. " Hiftorical Fragments of the Mogul Empire." The general im- 
preffion which was left on the mind of this impartial writer, after a minute expo- 
fition of the charafter and inftitutions of the Hindus, is expreffed in the follow- 
ing ftriking and dignified language : " Chriftianity vindicates all its glories, all 

its honours, and all its reverence, when we behold the moft horrid impieties 
N " avowed amongft the nations on whom its influence does not fhine, as a6tions 

neceflary in the common conduct of life : I mean poifonings, treachery, and af- 
" faffination among the fons of ambition, rapine, cruelty, and extortion in the 

minifters of juftice. I leave divines to vindicate, by more fanftified reflexions, 
" the caufe of their religion and their God." 

ignorance. 



CHRISTL\NITY IN ASIA. 



103 



ignorance, idolatry, and fuperflition. However fublime fome of 
the ideas may be concerning the fupreme Being, which have been 
found in the facred writings of the Hindus, the reprefentations of 
the gods, before which the Brahmin and the multitude indifcrimi- 
nately worflaip, are but too defcriptive of the nature of the fuper- 
flition with which their idolatry is conne6led. Every part of the 
Hindu mythology, however it may contain fome velliges of prim- 
aeval tradition, is compounded of falfehood and immorality ; and 
their religious rites confift of little more than licentioufnefs and 
cruelty. The former, by the very fymbols of their deities, is ad- 
mitted as a fyftematic principle in the ceremonies of the Hindus, 
as it was in the myfteries of the Greeks and Romans ; and is up- 
held by the profligate eftablilhments of fome of their moft facred 
temples ; " the laft effort," as it has been juiily obferved, " of 
" mental depravity, in the invention of a fuperftition, to blind the 
" underftanding, and to corrupt the heart." 

Of the cruelty of the Hindu fuperilition, the proofs have been 
too long before the public, to require any additional confirmation. 
Dreadful as the rites of other idolatrous nations have been, they 
have been equalled, if not exceeded, by thofe which are pradlifed 
amongft the natives of Hinduftan. Even at the very period, which 
fome authors have fixed upon as the aera of their civilization and 
refinement, it is certain, that human facrifices were offered by the 
Hindus ; and although thefe have nominally ceafed they ftill 
adhere to many fupcrftitious pradices, which either infliA imme- 
diate death, or direAly tend to it. Of the Sahamoron, or the 
burning of widows with their dcceafed hufljands, a pradice com- 
mon to all parts of Ilindulhm, it is fuflicicnt to fay, that according 

" Sec, however, note K. 

to 



104 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



to the calculation ° of a late learned member P of the Afiatic So- 
ciety, the number of widows who thus perifli felf-devoted in the 
northern provinces of Hinduftan alone, is not lefs than 10,000 
annually : other computations flate the numbers of thefe deluded 
victims to be 3 0,000, or even 50,000, annually, in the whole 
extent of India. Nor is this the only fuperftitious pra6lice by 
which the lives of their wretched votaries are endangered or re- 
quired. The natives of Hinduftan, particularly the inhabitants of 
Oriffa, and of the eaftern parts of Bengal, fometimes make offer- 
ings of their children to the goddefs Gunga, and devote to her 
their firftborn, by encouraging the unhappy child to walk into 
the river Ganges, till it is carried away by the ftream. This fpe- 
cies of human facrifice was publicly committed at the ifland of 
Saugor, and at other places reputed holy, at certain ftated fea- 
fons : but in the year 1802, this inhuman practice was abo- 
liftied by an exprefs regulation of the Britifh government, and 
declared to be murder, punifliable with death. Infants, who re- 
fufe their mother's milk, are, however, ftill frequently expofed on 
trees in bafkets, and devoured by birds of prey ; and amongft a 
race of Hindus called Rajputs, the mothers ftarve their female in- 
fants to death 

Perfons of either fex, who, from whatever cauft, may be in 
diftrefs, fometimes devote themfelves to a voluntary death, by 
plunging into the river Ganges, at the places reputed holy. At 
the Puja of the Rutt Jattra, many put an end to their exillence, 
by falling under the wheels of a heavy wooden car, containing 
their gods. This is chiefly pradifed at Jaggernaut, where they 



• See note L. p William Chambers, Efq. 

' Afiatic Refearches, Vol. IV. p. 333. 



fome- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



105 



fometiiiies lie down in the track of this machine a few hours be- 
fore its arrival, and, taking a foporiferous draught, hope to meet 
death afleep. Perfons fuppofed to be dying, particularly if they 
are aged, arc removed from their beds, and carried to the brink of 
the Ganges ; where, amidft the agonies of departing nature, thev 
are half immerfed in the river, while torrents of water are poured 
by the by-ftanders upon the wretched vidlims of their fuperfli- 
tion, who feldom furvive the operation many hours. 

Of the various religious tortures which are commonly prac- 
tifed by the Hindus, more particularly on the lall: five days of 
the month Chytra, under the denomination of the Chorruk Puja, 
the following may be fufficient to mention : that of fvvinging 
with hooks palfed through the integuments of the back ; of 
dancing with threads, canes, or bamboos, paffed through the 
fides ; of thrufiing fpits, or other infi:ruments of iron, through 
the tongue or forehead ; of falUng from a height on fliarp in- 
firuments ; of fwinging over a fire ; of climbing naked a tree 
armed with thorns. At other times, numbers are found mea- 
furing, with their naked bodies trained over burning fands, the 
ground lying between one pagoda and another, dillant, perhaps, 
many leagues ; or bearing, with fixed eyes, the rays of the me- 
ridian fun. Thefe, with other practices and penances equally 
tremendous, are the means by which the infatuated worfliippers 
of Brahma hope to conciliate the favour of the Deity, and to 
obtain the blefiings of immortality ; and thefe may fcrve to give 
fome idea of the cruelty which characterizes the Hindu fupcr- 
Hition. 



That fuch a fyllcni of idolatry and fupcrllition fliould produce 
the worll efFccfts on the morals of the people, is inevitable. ^J'his 

P has 



106 DUTY OF PROPAGATING 

has already appeared from their general character. The Hindu 
lyftem has, in fa6l, no regard to morality. Superftitious oblerv- 
ances and largeffes to the Brahmins ufurp the place of piety, 
jiiftice, and mercy, and are confidered as expiatory of the moft 
flagrant violations of moral condu6l. The fan6lions of their reli- 
gion, although future, are not eternal ; and in the penances which 
it enjoins, the claffification of crimes is altogether unequal : indif- 
ferent actions are puniflied equally with the moft injurious ; the 
omillion of ceremonies, with the moft immoral actions. No 
provifion is made for the moral injiruttion of the great body of 
the people. To them the Vedas, and even the Puranas, are as a 
dead letter, as fealed books. But very few can read the former, and 
fewer underftand them ; and with refpe6t to the Cafte of the mul- 
titude, that is, the Suders, and the ftill more wretched tribe of the 
Pariars, they are held in contempt and abhorrence by the Brah- 
mins ; it is even a crime to inftru6l them. Add to this, that the 
Fakeers, or religious mendicants, who chiefly conftft of thieves 
and infolvent debtors, and are faid to be not lefs in number than 
110,000 in Hindurtan, are too often the public and licenfed cor- 
rupters of the morals of the people. 

It may, perhaps, be faid, that the Mohammedans, who are fup- 
pofed, whether accurately or not, it is imnecelTary in this place to 
inquire, to form one tenth part of the inhabitants of Hinduftan, 
are a more improved and civilized race. But, although fome of 
the grofler features of idolatry have been removed by Moham- 
medifm, that impofture has fubftituted but little of what is better 
in their ftead. Though theifts, the Mohammedans are not pra6li- 
cally more moral than the Plindus. They are in general diflb- 
lute and abandoned ; more intractable and infolent than the 
Hindus, and even ftill lefs to be confided in. Moft of them are 

ignorant 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



107 



ignorant of the Koran, and entertain a contempt for learning, yet 
defpife the reft of mankind. Unlike the Hindus, they are zeal- 
ous in making profelytes, and partake of the political bigotry and 
intolerance, which have ever charadlerized their faith. 

The a6lual ftate, therefore, both civil and religious, of the na- 
tives of Hindultan, whether Mohammedans or Hindus, is, to a 
high degree, wretched and deplorable. Enflaved by a cruel and 
immoral fuperftition, or deluded by a fierce and barbarous im- 
pofture, even the beft informed and moft civilized among them 
are diftinguilhed by a degree of ignorance of moral and religious 
principles, and by difpofitions and conduct, which would difgrace 
the loweft and meaneft rank of people in any Chriftian country ; 
whilft the multitude, though ingenious in manufadlures, and pa- 
tient of control, are but little removed, in point of moral improve- 
ment, from the moft uncivilized of mankind. 

The fame melancholy view which is thus given of the natives 
of Hinduftan is equally applicable, with flight and unimport- 
ant variations, to the other great ftates of Afia. Over the vaft 
extent of the Turkifli Afiatic empire, the peninfula of Arabia, the 
kingdom of Perfia, and the territory of Independent l^artary, and 
amongft the innumerable tribes which inhabit the fhores of the 
Cafpian, and the ridges of Mount Caucafus, the impofture of Mo- 
hammed reigns triumphant. Throughout the remaining regions 
of the great continent of Afia ; in the ifland of Ceylon, in Tibet, 
the Birman empire, Siam, the vaft empire of China, and the ifiands 
of Japan, the religion of Buddh', w hicli, though differing in fome 
important particulars, bears notwithftanding a near affinity to that 



« See note M. 
P 2 



of 



108 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



of the Hindus, together with fome other forms of idolatry and 
fuperftition, univerfallj prevail. Even in Afiatic Ruffia, Chrif- 
tianitj has not yet made any material progrefs amongfi: the na- 
tives ; who are fubmilllve either to the Mohammedan or Bud- 
hean faith. 

To the eye of a reflecting obferver, the moral review of this ce- 
lebrated portion of the globe is humiliating and lamentable. Dur- 
ing a long courfe of ages, the innumerable inhabitants of many of 
its faireft regions, fome of which were honoured with the firft 
communication from heaven, and others with the final revelation 
of the divine will, have been involved " in darknefs and the Iha- 
*' dow of death," have lived and died ignorant of their Creator, 
ftrangers to the bleffings of true religion, " without God and 

without hope in the world." Can arguments be wanting, after 
this faint reprefentation of their moral condition, to perfuade a 
great and generous nation, enjoying the pure and benign light of 
Chriftianity, and, above all, polTeffing, by the evident interpofition 
of divine Providence, an extenfive empire amidft thefe benighted 
regions, that it is its duty to feize the opportunity which is af- 
forded to it, of difFufing amongft its fubjed;s the knowledge and 
the bleffings of the Chriftian faith ? Every motive of gratitude 
for the diflinguifhing favour of Heaven towards ourfelves, and of 
juftice, corapaffion, and love, to our Afiatic brethren ; whofe hap- 
pinefs >ve are bound to confult as much as that of any other body 
of Britilh fubjedls, urges us to avail ourfelves of the exalted privi- 
lege of leading them to participate in our own inefiiimable advan- 
tages, 

HI. The duty of promoting Chriflian knowledge amongft our 
Indian fubjeds refts fimply and decifively on our obligations as a 

Chriftian 



CHRISTLINITY IN ASIA. 



109 



Chriflian nation. We have feen, however, that this condderation 
is greatly heightened by their political and moral condition, and 
by the dominion which we have acquired, and exercife over them. 
It will be ftill further confirmed, by a reference to the benefits 
which would refult, both to the natives and to the Britifh govern- 
ment, from the introduction of Chrillianity into Alia. 

Who can entertain a doubt upon this fubjed:, that attentively 
confiders the nature and tendency of our holy religion ? Laft in 
the order of the divine difpenfations, preceded by a peculiar oeco- 
nomy, and by a long courfe of ages, during which the world was 
preparing for its reception, it appeared, at length, as the great con- 
cluding gift of God to mankind, intended and calculated to fupply 
their fpiritual wants, to alleviate their temporal miferics, and to 
promote their prefent and future happinefs. 

To a world abandoned to idolatry, fuperftition, and wickednefs, 
Chrillianity revealed the character and will of the one living and 
true God, as a Being of infinite wifdom, purity, and goodncfs. It 
made known his purpofes of mercy to mankind through the me- 
diation of his Son Jefus Chrift ; difclofed the terms of forgivenefs 
and acceptance with him, through faith in the doctrines, and obe- 
dience to the commands of the Gofpel ; and provided for the 
weaknefs and corruption of human nature, by the promife of di- 
vine afliftance. In addition to thofe pure and exalted precepts, 
which more immediately refpecl the attainment of perfonal virtue, 
and confequently of perfonal happinefs, Chriftianity prefcribed the 
great laws of truth, juttice, and charity, for the regulation of the 
conduct of mankind towards each other, and for the feciirity and 
happinefs both of individuals and of fociety. This latter object 
was Hill further provided for by thofe injunctions which declared 

the 



110 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



the general obligation of fubmiffion and obedience to princes and 
governors, as to powers ordained of God, and the reciprocal obli- 
gation of rulers to confult the welfare of their fubje6ls. The 
entire fyftem, both of public and of private duty, was enforced by 
the authoritative revelation of a future Hate, in which the whole 
race of mankind would be eternally rewarded or punifhed, accord- 
ing to their works. 

Such is, briefly, the nature of that religion which is propofed to 
be fubftituted for the delufions of Mohammedifm, and the idola- 
try, ignorance, cruelty, and immorality of the Hindu fuperftition. 
To demonllrate its infinite fuperiority would furely be altogether 
an unnecelTary labour. Without adverting to the beneficial in- 
fluence of Chriftianity, wherever it has been hitherto introduced, 
a fubjed: which has already occurred, and will be hereafter re- 
fumed, a few arguments only fliall be adduced to prove the im- 
portance of promoting it in India. 

1 . The introdu6lion of Chriflianity affords, in the firft place, 
the hejl and the only effeBual means of improving the condition of 
the natives. This has been already thewn to be, in many refpeds, 
degraded and deplorable ; and it requires but little reafoning to 
demonflrate, that no regulations of a nature limply political will 
ever materially improve it. The Hindus are efpecially deficient 
in principle and in energy ; and before thefe defeds can be ad- 
equately fupplied, the ignorance and the vices, which are now ha- 
bitual to them, mufl be removed. Much may, no doubt, be ef- 
fected by our mild government, and equal adminiftration of juf- 
tice,in India, towards promoting the welfare of our native fub- 
jeds ; but no radical amelioration of their condition can be pro- 
duced, without an entire change in their moral fentiments and ha- 
bits ; 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



Ill 



bits ; and the only effeclual expedient for this purpofe is the in- 
fluence of the Chriftian religion. The work is too great to be ac- 
compUflied by any mere human policy ; the difficulties of the at- 
tempt are infuperable by any means fhort of thofe with which 
Heaven has vouchfafed to cntruft us, for our own benefit, and 
that of all with whom we are connected. 

2. But it may be faid, that, although the duty of promoting 
Chriftianity in our Oriental empire, and the advantages to be de- 
rived by the natives, be undoubted, the meafure is fraught with 
danger to our own interejls as governors. The Hindus, it may be ^ 
faid, in their prefent ftate are fubmiffive to our authority ; but if 
enlightened and improved, they will be rendered independent of 
our control. " But," as it has been decifively alked, " fliall a 
" Chriftian people, acknowledging a Providence in the rife and 

fall of empires, regulate the policy of future times, and neglect 
" a prefent duty ; a folemn and imperious duty, exacted by their 
" religion, by their public principles, and by the opinion of the 
" Chriltian nations around them ?" The proper anfwer to fuch a 
queflion cannot, furely, be doubtful. It may, however, be fafely 
argued, on the ground of policy, that the progreffive improvement 
of the Elindus will never injure the interefts of the Britilh govern- 
ment Befides adverting to the bleffing of the divine Providence 
on fuch an attempt, and to the length of time which mult elapfe 
before the Hindus can ever become an improved people, even un- 
der all our exertions, the tmth is, that more danger will refult to 

" Loofc reports have, hidced, been circulated both in India and in England, 
that the exertions of the Proteflant niiflionaries l)ad foinc influence in producing 
the late tragical mutiny at Vellore. J'»ut that melancholy event being fully ac- 
counted for from a very different caufe, it is unncceflTary to refute fuch unfounded 
rumours. 

the 



112 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



the Britifh dominion in India from the continued operation of the 
ignorance and prejudices of the natives, than from any prudent at- 
tempt to convert them to the Chrillian faith. 

Admitting, w^hat mufi; be deemed incontrovertible, the poHtical 
influence of a mild, juft, and humane adminiftration, the fyftem of 
our Indian government is ftill expofed to this radical defe6l ; that it 
has no common bond of union between the people and their 
rulers ; and that, until fuch a bond be ellablifhed, we can neither 
expert nor rely on their attachment. The relative cuftoms, ha- 
bits, and religion of the Hindus are all oppofed to ours, fome of 
which are peculiarly ofFenfive to them. The familiar intercourfe, 
alfo, between Europeans and the natives, which has of late years 
fo much increafed, has a natural and unavoidable tendency to di- 
minifli the refped: of the latter for our national character, without 
fubftituting any fentiment to counteract this diminution ; the con- 
ftant fucceflion of the former weakens the efFe6ls of perfonal in- 
fluence ; and the barrier to a coalition of fentiment, while the 
flate of things remains as at prefent, is invincible. That the na- 
tives of India acknowledge the lenity of the Britifli adminifl:ration, 
and the impartiality of its jullice, may, indeed, be readily ad- 
mitted. But it may be doubted, whether they are fo deeply fen- 
lible of thefe benefits, as to feel any cordial attachment to the 
Englifli government, or any very earnefl: wifli for its permanence. 
The Mohammedans have not yet forgotten the annihilation of 
the influence and authority which they formerly poflelled ; and 
even the Zemindars, who are for the moft part Hindus, conflder 
the deprivation of the power which they enjoyed under the an- 
cient government as fcarcely compenfated by their prefent advan- 
tages. Under fuch circumftances, efpecially conlidering that the 
proportion of fubjedls to the governing power is in the ratio of 

two 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



113 



two millions to a thoufand, is it poffible, notwithftanding prefent 
appearances, to be without apprehenlions for the permanency of 
the Britilh dominion in India ? Can an empire of opinion be 
pronounced durable, which is liable to perpetual decadence and 
decay by the operation of natural caufes, and the more forcible ef- 
fects of oppoling prejudices ? Power, though ellential to our fe- 
curity, can never alone perpetuate our dominion in India. The 
medium through which it now appears magnified to the natives 
may, by the operation of art and intrigue, be gradually removed ; 
and the confequences of fuch a change, efpecially when com- 
bined, as may very poflibly be the cafe, when the reftlefs machi- 
nations and the implacable hatred of our great European enemy 
are confidered, with an external attack, cannot be contemplated 
without anxiety and alarm. If it be faid that the danger is re- 
mote, it is not on that account the lefs to be dreaded and guarded 
againlL Without reference, therefore, to higher principles of 
duty, political conjide rations are fufficient to eftablilli the expedi- 
ency of introducing, if poffible, fome common fentiment, which 
may unite allegiance with affection ; which may in time diminifli 
or deftroy thofe prejudices which arc the latent principles of aver- 
iion and revolt ; and, if it fhould fail of producing this extenfive 
cffeel, may at lead provide another defcription of fubjedls, con- 
nected with their rulers by one common bond of union. 

To appreciate the weight of this propofition, let us confider, for 
a moment, the political efFed; refulting from the difcordant preju- 
dices and fuperftitions of the two clafles of fubjed:s, Moham- 
medans and Hindus. In embodying the native troops, the force 
of the principle has ever been felt, and has been obferved with the 
greatell attention. The religious prejudices of each furnilli a per- 
petual check, upon the other ; and though they are rendered fub- 

Q ordinate 



114 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



ordinate to difcipline, fufficiently for military purpofes, the domef- 
tic, focial, and religious habits ftill remain diltincft, and confirm the 
control of government over both. If a third clqfs were to exiil, it 
would augment this effedl by a politive acceffion of ftrength, as 
well as by a diminution of the counteracting force. 

The only principle of fufficient power to produce this efFe6l is 
the Chrijiian religion. No one, it is prefumed, will deny, that our 
fecurity would be increafed, if a fourth, or fifth, or even a tenth 
proportion of our native fubjed;s were Chriftians ; and the only 
quefiion for confideration is the political hazard of attempting 
the introduction of our faith in India. But this, it is conceived, 
is by no means to be dreaded. 

Chrifi;ianity, as we have already feen has been publicly 
preached in different parts of India, with no inconfiderable fuc- 
cefs, upwards of one hundred years ; yet no evil whatever has 
hitherto refulted from thefe long-continued exertions. Nor is this 
to be apprehended, while thofe who propagate our holy religion 
continue to a6t with the mildnefs and prudence which, as it has 
been hitherto univerfally acknowledged, have characterized their 
conduct. 

The divided fi;ate of the Hindus is a circumfl:ance which tends 
to remove any fears as to the political confequences of attempting 
to introduce Chriftianity. They have no bond of union in them- 
felves, and no principle capable of effecting it. A fi;eady or con- 
certed oppofition to this work is not, therefore, to be apprehended. 

The danger, as we have before obferved, is evidently of another 
^ See Brief Hiftoric View prefixed. 

kind. 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



115 



kind. A Hindu, while he continues under the influence of his 
native fuperl1:itions, cannot be cordially attached to the Britith go- 
vernment : but when converted to the Chriftian faith, he pof- 
fefles that common principle of union with it, which neceflarily 
renders him a loyal and obedient fubjecl. 

The view which has now been given of the duty of the Britifli 
government to endeavour to propagate the Chriftian religion 
throughout its Oriental empire, will, probably, be thought con- 
clufive by many on the ground both of obligation and of policy. 
A previous queftion, however, may be urged upon the whole in- 
quiry, as to the pra6ficability of accomplifliing this wife and bene- 
volent plan. 

It cannot be denied, that various difficulties and impediments are 
oppofed to its execution. One of thefe obftacles arifes from the 
fupine, paffive indifference of the Hindus, with refpedl to religious 
feeling. They do not deny the truth of Chritlianity ; but they 
think their own religion divine, and better adapted to their cha- 
raAer and circumftances. They hear, therefore, with indifference, 
arguments in favour of Chriftianity. The Mohammedans, on the 
contrary, are alive to every feeling which refpedls their religion, 
however carelefs they may be in obfcrving its didates. 

But the attachment of the Hindus to their Juperjiitious pradiccs 

'"* 

and cujloms may be deemed the principal obftacle. All former 
writers reprefent this attachment as inveterate; and although their 
opinions arc now to be received with confiderable modification, 
we are not difpofed to deny, that fuperftitions, the growth of ages, 
and the practices wiiich arc connected with them, mud be deeply 
rivetted in the affeclions of an ignorant people, and indilpofe them 

Q 2 to 



116 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



to the reception of inftruclion, calculated to fubvert them. But 
as it has been excellently obferved, the calmly obftinate attach- 
ment of the Hindus to their ufages and inftitutionsis not, like that 
of the Brahmins, founded on a clear convidlion, that they are in-. 
dilTolubly connected with their own intereft. It is a mere animal 
afFedion, not a fentiment ; it is not the force of gravitation, but 
that of ijiertia ; and the moft eligible courfe to be purfuedr for the 
purpofe of overcoming it, is to transfufe through the mafs of the 
people the vis vivax of knowledge and virtue ^. Hence it follows, 
that it is going too far to alTume the inefBcacy of inftru6lion in the 
cafe of the Hindus, until it fliall have been fairly and prudently 
tried. The trial, fo far as it lias been made, proves their attach- 
ment to their cuftoms to be by no means invincible: fome of their 
moft fanguinary practices are deftitute even of the fancftion of 
thofe books which they confider facred, and have been abolifhed 
by the interference of the Britifh adminiftration. The attach- 
ment in queftion ought not, therefore, to be allowed to operate 
as a difcouragement from the inftruftion of the Hindus, but to 
fuggeft caution and circumlpedtion in the mode of attempting it. 
The fuccefs will certainly be flow, but there is no reafon at pre- 
fent to conclude that the attempt will fail. 

The mental degradation and grojs ignorance of the Hindus have 
frequently been urged as an objeftion to any attempt to introduce 
Chriftian knowledge amongfl: them. In their prefent total want 
of moral information, it is faid, they would be entirely unable to 
comprehend the dodlrines and precepts of Chriftianity. But the 
degraded ftate of our native fubjed:s as to mental cultivation, al- 
though it jnay be an obftacle to any immediate or extraordinary 



* Edinb. Rev. vol. ix. p. 418. 



fuccefs 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



117 



fuccefs in the propagation of Chriftianity, is certainly no valid ob- 
jeAion to a cautious and moderate attempt to communicate it to 
them. It may be admitted, for the fake of argument, that, in their 
aclual circumftanceSjthe great body of the people maybe unable fully 
to comprehend the dodrines and the morality of the Gofpel. But 
how are they to be prepared for this ? By previoufly introducing 
amongfl them fome additional portion of the knowledge and com- 
forts of civilized life ? But the very fame difficulties prefent them- 
felves to this attempt, as to the former ; and after all, Chriftianity 
is the chief medium by which the minds of the Hindus mull: be en- 
lightened and cultivated, and their civil condition improved. The 
civilization of the Hindus, and of other Afiatic nations, muft be 
founded on the removal of their exifting fuperftitions ; and Chrif- 
tianity alone can cfFecl this change. The only conclufion, there- 
fore, which can be legitimately drawn from their ignorance and 
degradation, is, that our divine religion muft be introduced, and 
taught in a manner and by means fuited to fuch deplorable circum- 
ftances. It muft, however, be added, that the fundamental doc- 
trines and duties of the Gofpel may be rendered perfectly intelligi- 
ble to the moft uncivilized and ilUterate people. They were ori- 
ginally preached not only to the Jew and to the Greek, but to the 
Barbarian and the Scythian, to the wife and to the unwife ; and 
they fo approve themfelves to the underftandings and the hearts 
of men, that, when difplaycd in their native truth and fimplicity, 
they have ever met with a cordial reception, even from the pooreft 
and the moft ignorant of mankind \ 

« Such is the argument of Origen in his reply to Celfus. — xzxr,qir/i).vjov to \r,(r» 

^■jTtv xviga/Kuiv o /x:T« i'jvuixs'joi KuXti^ei; Aoyoj xexparr^xs" xsti oux sf* t» ysvo; liav ctybgw- 
■jrtov 6 exirifivyi ■aotquli^x^im ti;v Ir,7oo (itiua-xx?aay . Orig. contra Cclf. Ed. Bened. i. 
400. 

Another 



US 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



Another formidable obftacle to the progrefs of Chriffianity in 
Hinduflan, is the dijlrihution of the natives into Cajies, and the ex- 
ceflive dread of lofing their refpeAive ranks, which univerfally 
prevails. This has ever been conlidered as an almofl infuperable 
bar to their profeffion of Chriftianitj ; and it cannot be denied, 
that it prefents an appearance of oppotition to any favourable 
change, which feems, at firft fight, to bid defiance to every at- 
tempt to overcome it. This compound of tyranny and priefi:craft, 
for fuch it cannot but be efl;eemed, not only places, in the firfi; in- 
flance, a niofi: formidable barrier againfi: the introduction of Chrif- 
tianity among the natives of Hindufi:an, but tends, alfo, to fetter 
and debafe their minds beyond what can eafily be conceived. 
Connected with the wretched bondage of the Cafte, is the excef- 
five veneration which the lower clafl^es of the Hindus entertain for 
the Brahmins, their implicit obedience to the dictates, and their fu- 
perft;itious dread of the difpleafure and maledi(5tion of that order. 

To the apparently infurmountable obftacle of the Cafi;e mufi:, 
however, be oppofed the evidence of fadts, as to what has already 
taken place, notwithfl:anding its influence ; and what woifld pro- 
bably be the efFeCt of a change in the circumfi:ances of India re- 
fpedting Chrifi:ianity. It cannot be fuppofed, that the Hindus are 
to be confidered as exceptions to the human race ; and that their 
fuperftition is, more than all others over which Chrifliianity has 
triumphed, to be deemed invincible, Hifl:ory afibrds many in- 
ftances of the mofi; barbarous and idolatrous nations ^ refigning 
their ancient and inveterate prejudices to the truth of the Golpel ; 
and it is certain, that this has been the cafe even in that very coun- 
try which fome would wilh to confider wholly inacellible to it. 

^ See this fa£t well iliuftrated by Dr. Ryan, in his Hiftory of the EiFe6ls of Re- 
ligion on Mankind. 

India 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



119 



India has from time immemorial felt the power of Chriftianity. 
Thoufands of Brahmins, and others of the higher Caftes, have 
abandoned their pride and fuperftition, and become obedient to 
the Chriftian faith ; and that, let it be particularly obferved, at a 
period when the Hindus held the dominion of India. 

There are a6lually at this time on the coaft of Malabar, chiefly 
in the territories of the Rajahs of Travancore, and Cochin, up- 
wards of 200,000 natives, who profefs the Chriftian religion. 
They are divided into three clafles. l . The St. Thome or Syrian 
Chriftians, who appear to have been eftabliftied in India nearly 
fifteen hundred years. They are fituated amongft the hills, at the 
bottom of the High Ghauts, which divide the Carnatic from Ma- 
layala, and now occupy fifty-five Churches, acknowledging the 
Patriarch of Antioch. Their numbers are eftimated at 70, or 
80,000. This interetliing body of Chriftians has been generally 
confidered as holding the tenets of the Neftorian herefy ; but it 
appears from the accounts of two very intelligent inquirers, who 
have lately vifited them, that they difavow that herefy, and that 
their creed does not eU'entially differ from that of the Church of 
England 2, The fecond clafs of Chriftians on the coaft of Ma- 
labar is that of the Syrian Roman Catholics, who were conftrained, 
after a long flruggle, to join the Latin Church, and who ftill con- 
tinue within her pale. Thefe are faid to be more numerous than 
the members of the original Syrian Church, and to be ftill gaining 

« For many other important particulars refpe£ling the St. Thome Chriflians, 
as well as the two other clafl'cs on tlie Malabar coafl, Tee an account of the 
former by Dr. Buchanan, publiflied in the Chriftian Obferver for Odober 1807, 
and a report on the llatc of the Chriftian Churches in Cochin and Travancore 
by Dr. Kcr, one of the Caft India Company's Chaplains, to the government of 
Madras. 

ground. 



120 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



ground. 3. The third defcription of native Chriftians is that of 
the Latin Roman Catholics, who are fubjedl to the Primate of 
Goa. The numbers of this clafs are eftimated at about 30,ooo. 

Belides this extenfive prevalence of Chriftianity in India, it has 
been fuccefsfully preached by Proteftants, during the laft hundred 
years, in the fouth and in the north of the peninfula. The Danifh 
miffionaries at Tranquebar, and others, under the patronage of 
the Englith Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, amidft 
the various obftacles which fo fmall a body of men, invefted with 
no authority, could not but have to encounter, have converted 
numbers to the Chriftian faith ; and that, not exclulively from 
the loweft Caftes, as it has been fometimes afferted, but partly 
from the higher orders of the Hindus ^. The miffionaries, who 
have more recently been fent out by the Society of Englifh Bap- 
tifts, have been proportionably fuccefsful ; and have proved, that 
the chain of the Cafte is by no means indiiToluble. Their pro- 
ceedings ftate the converfion of feveral Brahmins ; and, amongft 
others, that of one of the very highell: order ^. 

Thefe indifputable fad:s are fufficient to prove, that the Brah- 
minical fuperftition, however formidable, is not altogether infupe- 
rable ; that, however difficult it may be to obtain accefs to the 
minds of the Hindus, there are numerous inftances to prove that 
it is not impracticable ; and it deferves particular conlideration, 
that the fuccefs which has hitherto attended Proteftant miffiona- 
ries has been obtained amidft the moft unfavourable circum- 
ftances : it is, therefore, the more to be regarded, and the little 

^ See Letter of Mr. Swartz, in the Proceedings of the Society for promoting 
Chriftian Knowledge for the year 1795. 
s i. e. a Koolin Brahmin. 

com- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



121 



comparative extent of it ought to excite lefs furprife. What has 
already been efFeded may be juftly conlidered as an earneft of the 
future fuccefs which may be expected, whenever the proper means 
for the converfion of the Hindus fhall be more diredily and exten- 
fively employed. 

Thefe are fome of the leading obftacles to the propagation of 
our pure faith in Hinduftan. It is neceflary, however, now to 
turn to a brighter view of the fubjeft, and to notice fome of the 
circumftances, which feem to prove the praciicabillfij of under- 
taking this great w^ork, and to point out fome of the facilities 
which prefent themfelves for its accomplilhment. 

It may not be improper to premife, that although the intro- 
du(5lion of Chriftianity amongft the Hindus may now be under- 
taken without danger, and with a fair profpeA of fuccefs, pro- 
vided the attempt be made with wifdom and difcretion, it may 
be juftly doubted, whether it could have been advantageoufly 
made at a much earlier period. For many years fubfequent to 
the eftabliftimcnt of the Britifli authority in Hinduftan, the dif- 
pofitions and inftitutions of the natives precluded every idea of 
fuch a defign. The transfer of the fupreme authority in Ben- 
gal from the Mohammedans to the Englifli, and the confequent 
introduction of new rules and regulations, formed upon Eu- 
ropean principles and pradices, into every department of the 
adminiftration, have had an indirect, but powerful, influence on 
Indian prejudices ; and the natural and neceflary confequcnce 
has been an abatement in the attachment of the Hindus to their 
ancient cuftoms. The moft confiderable political innovations 
were introduced by Lord Cornwallis in the year 17Q3 ; and we 
may confider that period not only as an ara of the moft ma- 
il tcrial 



122 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING 



terial improvements in the civil adminiftration of India, (which 
have lince been extended on the fame principles,) but of import- 
ant moral alterations. Thefe regulations of Lord Cornwallis feem, 
indeed, to have been neceffarj to prepare the minds of the Hin- 
dus for the reception of Chriftianitj 

Notwithftanding the reprefentation v^hich has been previoufly 
given of the rooted attachment of the Hindus to their fuperfti- 
tions, prejudices, and cuftoms, we are enabled to aflert, from ac- 
tual evidence, v^^hat we might have concluded from probability, 
that the Brahminical fuperftition has felt the influence of Britifh 
principles, and that it is daily weakening in every European fet- 
tlement. A very ftriking inftance of this diminifhed attachment 
of the Hindus to the motl folemn prefcriptions of their religion 
may be obferved in the free and unlimited difclofure of the doc- 
trines of their facred books, which has of late years been made by 
the Brahmins. Many recent accounts, alfo, concur in allerting, 
that the natives, in general, are more open to inftru6tion than has 
been commonly allowed ; and that any temperate meafures for 
promoting it may be lafely adopted. 

The light which has been thrown on Oriental antiquities, learn- 
ing, and religion, by the labours of Sir William Jones, and his 
colleagues of the Aliatic Society, as it tends to develop the genius 
and characler of the Hindus, and to point out the readieft modes 
of convincing and perfuading them, is another circumftance faci- 
litating the introdu6lion of the Chriftian religion ; while the in- 
creafed knowledge of the languages, which is the confequence of 
the Inftitution at Fort William, is producing a fimilar tf£e6k, by 

See the Chriftian Obferver for May i8o5. 

pro- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



123 



promoting the intercourfe between the Britilli and the natives, di- 
minifhing their prejudices, and giving additional force to Britifli 
principles, manners, and condud;. 

The fituation of the natives of Hinduftan (and the obfervation 
applies alfo to China, and fome other Afiatic nations) refpedling 
religion, the knowledge of which has but lately been generally 
difRafed, affords great encouragement to the attempt to propa- 
gate Chriftianity amongft them. 

There are multitudes of the people who are entirely deftitute 
of any religious belief ; who are neither Mohammedans, nor de- 
voted to the native fuperllition, Outcafts from every faith, they 
would be difpofed to liften to the Chriftian teacher, who fliould 
offer to fupply their prefent want ; and though defpicable in the 
eyes of their countrymen, their convertion would not, in reality, 
be lefs honourable or important, than that of the proud Brahmin, 
or the bigoted follower of Mohammed. 

It appears from various accounts, that the Hindus are a divided • 
people ; that they are lefs tenacious of opinion than of cuftom ; 
and that in no other country has there been fuch a variety of opi- 
nions on religious fubjed:s, for many ages paft, as in Hinduftan. 

The Seiks ', who poffefs the extenfive country of the Panjab, 
have, in a great meafure, apoftatized from the Hindu fyllcm, and 
have made great approaches to deifm. They may be confidered 
as " the reformed of India ;" and would, probably, prove by no 



' Nanuck, the founder of this fc£l, flourinied about three centuries fince. For 
an account of liim, fee Afiatic Refcarches, Vol. I. p. 288. 

R '1 means 



124 



DUTY OF PROPAGATING, &c. 



means fo inacceffible to arguments in favour of Chriftianity, as 
the adherents of the ancient faith. 

In the province of Bengal alone ^, (vi^hich has been accounted 
the llrong hold of the Brahminical fuperftition,) there are five 
clafles of natives who are adverfe to the Brahminical fjftem, and 
who may be termed Dilfenters from the Hindu practices and reli- 
gion. The founder of one of thefe taught, that there is no dif- 
tindiion of Cafte ; a tenet, which alone undermines the whole 
fyfiem of Hinduifm. Others of thefe fedls have teftified a llrong 
inclination to the Proteftant miffionaries, to renounce their errors, 
and receive Chritlian inftru6Vion ; and fome have even accepted 
the Bible, and other religious books in the Bengali language, 
which they now teach in a fchool eftablifhed for the inftrudiion of 
children. 

Such appear, from the reprefentations of thofe who are beft qua- 
lified to judge concerning this important point, to be fome of the 
moft favourable circumjiances in the actual fi:ate and difpofition of 
the natives of India, which may ferve to recommend and facilitate 
a prudent and well digefted plan for the introdudlion of Chrifi:i- 
anity amongfi; them. 

It will now be proper to proceed to the confideration of the 
main queftion, refpe^ling the means of tranflating the Scriptures 
into the Oriental tongues, and of promoting Chriftian knowledge 
in Afia. 

^ See Dr. Buchanan's Memoir, note F. 



CHAP. 



CHAP. II. 



The Means of tranjlating the Scriptures into the Oriental languages, 
and of promoting Chrijiian hnowledge in Afia. 



SECT. 1. 

TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 



ARGUMENT. 

Preliminary ohfervalions on the propriety and importance of tranjlating the Scriptures — 
Policy of falj'e religions as to their facrcd boohs — Conlrojl ajjorded hy the Jewijh arid 
the Chrijlian Church — Evils arijing from the Roman Catholic prohibition of the 
Scriptures in the vernacular languages — Kff 'c£ls of the tranflation of them at the Re- 
formation — Opinion of Sir IVilliam Jones as to the tranjlatlon of Scripture into the 
languages of Afia — general defcription of them — aBual flate of Oriental tranflation 
— means of extending and completing it — College of Fort IVilliam in Bengal, the 
grand fource of it — manner in which it Jhould he condutled — expence attending it — 
Encouragement and aid to he afforded to this work, by two Societies in England, 
and the two Univerjities. 



If it be the duty of Great Britain, as a Chriftian nation, to intro- 
duce our holy faith into Afia, there can be no cjueflion, that, as a 
Proteftant nation, it is its duty to tranflate the divine records of 
that faith into the languages of thofc countries, over which it ci- 
ther exercifes its authority, or policircs any influence or control. 
It may not, however, be unneceflary to make fome preliminary 

obfer- 



126 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



obfervations on the propriety and the importance of this Hep, as 
one grand medium of difFufing Chriftian knowledge. 

It has been the general policy of the authors of falfe religions, 
to conceal the inftitutes and myfteries of their pretended revela- 
tions from the knowledge of the vulgar; that is, of the great body 
of the people in every country. This has been efFedled either by 
involving them in hieroglyphic lymbols, or myfterious rites and 
obfervances ; by throwing over them the veil of a facred language, 
confined to a particular body of men ; or, by prohibiting the 
perufal of the facred books by the profane eyes of the multitude. 
Hence, the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians; the myfteries and efo- 
teric do6lrines of the Greeks and Romans ; the prohibitory laws 
of the Hindus ; and the partial difcouragements of the Mohamme- 
dans ^. The grounds of this dilgraceful policy are fufficiently ob- 
vious. Ignorance, whilft it is julHy faid to be the parent of a 
blind and bigoted devotion to error and fuperftition, invefts the 
fuppofed facred obje6l with a myfterious grandeur, which leads its 
unhappy votary captive, and perpetuates its wanderings from truth 
and virtue. 

The contraft which has been exhibited in the conduct of the 
ftewards of our holy faith in all ages of the Church, except dur- 
ing the triumphant prevalence of the great Papal apoftafy, is one 
of thofe circumftances which illuftrate its divine origin and ex- 
cellence. 

No command was more folemnly given, or more repeatedly en- 
forced, by the great Legillator of the Jews, to the coUedlive body 



• See note N. 



of 



CHRISTL\NITY IN ASIA. 



127 



of the people, than that of a dihgent and frequent perufal of their 
law ; not only as it refpecled their civil concerns, but as it con- 
tained the rules of their moral and religious condud; ^. Obedience 
to this command was recommended by the exhortations and ex- 
amples of their vvifeft monarchs, and enforced by promifes of the 
moft important nature ; while the neglecl of it was followed by 
the molt fatal corruptions and diforders, and formed one of thofe 
tranfgreffions which called for the reproofs and admonitions of the 
Prophets. 

No fooner had the Jews who were fettled in Alexandria fo far 
become ftrangers to their native language, as to be unable to read 
with facility and advantage their facred Scriptures, than the Pro- 
vidence of God fo ordained it, that a heathen prince fliould be the 
inftrument of furnifliing them with the celebrated tranflation of 
the Septuagint to fupply the want of the original volumes, and 
to perpetuate amongft them the laws and inftitutions, and prophe- 
cies of their forefathers. The advantages of this great work were 
not confined to the people for whom it was originally undertaken. 
Its remote confequences, as we have already obferved, were felt 
throughout the Eaft, and through a great part of the Roman em- 
pire, during nearly three hundred years previous to the coming of 
the long-expecled Redeemer of mankind. When Chrillianity was 
actually introduced into the world, the Greek language was more 
univerfally undcrftood than any other ; fo that throughout the 
greater part of their travels, the Apolllcs met with many to whom 
it was either native or familiar. The tranflation of the Septuagint 
was then quoted and ufed as containing a faithful verfion of the 
original Scriptures ; and the writings of the Apollles were com- 
mitted to the fame widely diftufed language. 

Dcut, vi. 6, 7. <^ Sec note O. 

There 



128 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



There were, however, fome nations in which the Greek lan- 
guage was comparatively but little known ; and, for their benefit, 
tranflations of the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, or of 
the latter onlj, were early undertaken. Thus gradually arofe the 
Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Arabic, and Perfian 
verfions. The firft of thefe, like the Greek, became the univerfal 
medium of Chriliian infirudlion throughout the Roman empire. 
In procefs of time, as Chriftianity prevailed among the barbarous 
nations by whom that empire was overturned, and in the north 
of Europe, tranflations were fucceflively made, and became the 
great inltrument of converting and infi:ru6ting the people amongft 
whom they were difperfed. The neceflity and utility of this mea- 
fure muft be obvious to thofe who admit, that the chief defign of 
revelation is to inftrucft and reform the great bulk of mankind. 
This end can never be attained, while the fources of moral and re- 
ligious knowledge are concealed by thofe original languages, 
which muft in general be inacceflible to them. 

It may be further proved, by the evils which have invariably 
flowed from the ignorance in which the great body of the people 
have been fometimes unwarrantably detained. We need only re- 
fer to the period during which the Church of Rome exercifed her 
tyrannical and uncontrolled dominion over the Chriftian world, 
which prefented one univerfal fcene of intelled:ual and moral 
darknefs, fuperftition, and vice, and was fafl: relapfing into the er- 
rors and idolatry of heathen ifm. 

The tranflation of the Scriptures by Wickliffe afforded the firft 
glimmerings of that brighter day, which afterwards fucceeded the 

^ See the Brief Hiftoric View prefixed, in various places. 

night 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



129 



night of Papal ignorance. And the fiibfequent verfions of Lutlier 
in Germany, and of Tindal, Archbilhop Cranmer, and others, in 
England, were amongft the molt efFectual means which were em- 
ployed by thofe wife and zealous Reformers, in promoting the 
Proteftant religion in Europe. 

It is a fadl, which we have already had occafion repeatedly to 
obferve ^ that wherever the Scriptures have been tranllated into 
the vernacular language of any country, and generally difperfcd, 
they have uniformly enlightened and inftru^led the minds of men. 
That fuch a meafure fhould be adopted wherever it is intended to 
introduce the Chriftian religion, cannot, therefore, be doubted. 
The only point which may admit of a queftion with refped: to the 
inftruclion of a heathen nation, is the expediency of introducing 
the EiigUJJi lajiguage in the firft inftance, and then of difperf- 
ing the Englifh Bible amongft the natives. This may, perhaps, 
demand confideration with reference to fome parts of Africa 
and America, and the illands of the South Sea ; but as far as Ada 
is concerned, the queftion can fcarcely be confidered as requir- 
ing any difculTion. There the native languages have, in general, 
been formed and cultivated for many ages, and fome of them are 
fuperftitioufly revered ; moft of them are, alfo, futficiently copious 
to admit of a full and perfpicuous tranftation of the Scriptures. 
The vaft population of Alia, and the length of time which muft 
elapfe before the Englilh language can become generally dilFufed, 
are, moreover, decifive as to the fuperior expediency of tranllating 
the Scriptures into the Oriental tongues. 

In fupport of this meafure, as one of the moft important means 



' See Brief Iliftoric View prefixed. 



of 



130 



MEANS OP PROPAGATING 



of difFuling Chriftian knowledge in Alia, the opinion of Sir Wil- 
liam Jones \ who will be univerfallj allowed to have been both a 
competent and an impartial judge, although limited as to its ex- 
tent, may be fairly adduced. " We may alTure ourfelves," fays 
that learned writer, " that neither Mufelmans nor Hindus will 
" ever be converted by any million from the Church of Rome, or 
" from any other Church g; and the only human mode, perhaps, 
" of caufing fo great a revolution, will be to tranflate into Sanfcrit 
" and Perlian fuch chapters of the Prophets, particularly of Ifaiah, 
" as are indifputably evangelical, together with one of the Gofpels, 
" and a plain prefatory difcourfe, containing full evidence of the 

very diftant ages in which the predictions themfelves, and the 
" hillory of the divine Perfon predifted, were feverally made pub- 
" lie ; and then quietly to difperfe the work amongll the well- 

educated natives ; with whom, if, in due time, it failed of pro- 
•* ducing very falutary fruit by its natural influence, we could only 
*' lament, more than ever, the ftrength of prejudice, and the weak- 

nefs of unaliilled reafon 

The expediency of tranflating the Scriptures, either more or lefs 
fully, into the Oriental languages refts, therefore, on the folid balls 
of the invariable practice of the Chriflian Church in former ages ; 
the uniform experience of its utility in the great w ork of convert- 
ing the heathen ; and the opinion of one, who, from local as well 
as general knowledge, was moll; competent to form a right judg- 
ment on this fubjed:. 

^ Many other teftimonles might have been added, but that of Sir William 
Jones was deemed both unexceptionable and decifive. 

c Some obfervations will hereafter be made on this part of the quotation. 
Diflertation on the Gods of Greece, Italy, and India. 

In 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



131 



In proceeding to the confideration of the means of tranllating 
the Scriptures into the Oriental tongues, it may be proper previ- 
oufly to give fome brief account of their nature and comparative 
importance. 

The languages of Afia are numerous and diverfified. They dif- 
fer in the extent of their influence, the nature of their conftmc- 
tion, the degree of their copioufnefs and refinement, and the faci- 
lity of their acquilition by foreigners. Some of them are radically 
diftind from the reft ; w^hilft others have a manifeft relation and 
affinity to each other. 

The inftruftion of India being the object firfl; to be attended to, 
its languages fhould be firrt noticed. They may all, according to 
the diftribution of a profound Oriental fcholar ', be comprehended 
in three clalTes. The firft of thefe contains the Sanfcrit ^, a moft 
polifhed tongue, which is reprefented by Sir William Jones ' " as 
" more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and 

more exquifitely refined than either." It is cultivated by learned 
Hindus throughout India as the language of fcience and of litera- 
ture, and as the repofitory of their law, civil and religious. It is 
faid evidently to draw its origin from a primaeval tongue, which 
was gradually refined in various climates, and became Sanfcrit in 
India, Pahlavi in Periia, and Greek on the fhores of the Mediter- 
ranean. The Sanfcrit has nearly fliarcd the fate of all ancient 
tongues, and is now become almofl a dead language ; but there 

' H. T. Colcbrooke, Efq. Profeflbr of Hindu Law, and of Sanfcrit, in the Col- 
lege of Fort William. Diffcrtation on the Sanfcrit and Pracrit Languages. 
Afiatic Refearches, Vol. VII. 

^ This word, when applied to a language, lignifies " poliflied." 

* Afiatic Refearches, Vol. L 25. 

s 2 fbems 



132 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



feems to be no good reafon for doubting that it was once univer- 
fallj fpoken in India. It is fixed in the clalTic writings of many 
elegant poets, moft of whom are fuppofed to have flourifhed in 
the century preceding the Chrillian aera and is efteemed by the 
Brahmins as nearly of divine origin. The importance of a tranf- 
lation of the Scriptures into this extraordinary language is, there- 
fore, obvious. Such a work would be powerfully recommended 
by the veneration in which the Sanfcrit is univerfally held, and 
would probably have greater influence with the more learned 
Hindus than any other. It is accordingly particularly recom- 
mended by Sir William Jones in the pafllige which has been al- 
ready quoted relative to the prefent fubjec^t; and, notwithftanding 
the apparent difficulty of the undertaking, it has already been at- 
tempted by fome of the learned and enterprifing fcholars who 
adorn our Oriental empire. 

The fecond clafs of Indian languages comprehends the written 
dialeds which are now ufed in the intercourfe of civil life, and 
which are cultivated by men of letters. There is reafon to be- 
lieve that ten poliftied dialers formerly prevailed in as many dif- 
ferent nations, who occupied the fertile provinces of Hinduftan 
and the Decan ". Of thefe, that to which the denomination of 
Pracrit has been reftridted, which was fpoken by the Sarefwata on 
the banks of the river Sarafwati, has long lince ceafed to be ver- 
nacular ; and may therefore, notwithftanding its excellence, be 
confidered as unconnedled with the prefent inquiry. The fame 
obfervation applies to that of the Canyacubjas, who once poflefled 
a great empire, the metropolis of which was the ancient city of 

" For a more detailed account of the Sanfcrit, fee Mr. Colebrooke's Diflerta- 
tion. 

" Colebrooke's Differt. ut fupra. 

^ Canyacubja, 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



133 



Canyacubja, or Canoj. The language of this nation is faid to be 
that which is known by the appellation of Hindi, or Hindevi. It 
poflefles a peculiar affinity to the Sanfcrit, from \\'hich it probably 
fprung, and is the ground-work of the modern Hindullani, by 
which, as a popular language, it is now fuperfeded. The lan- 
guage of Mit'hila and the dialecl of Gurjara, including the modern 
Guzerat, and the greateft part of Candefli and Malsva, fo nearly 
refemble feverally the Bengali and the Hindi, both as to their na- 
ture, and the characters in which they are written, that it is un- 
neceflary to notice them further in this place. The fix remaining 
languages are of much greater importance. 

Previoully, however, to thefe, the Hinduftani, as the moft exten- 
fively known, and therefore the moft generally ufeful, claims our 
attention. This elegant language, derived from the ancient Hindi, 
and enriched or enlarged by the acceflion of innumerable terms 
from the Perfian and the Arabic, is the common vehicle of collo- 
quial intercourfe among all the well-educated natives of India. 
The Mohammedans almoft univerfidly underftand and fpeak it. 
Every Hindu of any dillinclion, connected cither with the Mo- 
hammedan or Britifh government, is converfant with it ; and it is 
the general medium of communication between foreigners in In- 
dia. In the armies its ufe is nearly univcrfal. Throughout the 
vaft extent of country from Cape Comorin to Kabul, a trad 2000 
miles in length, and 1400 in breadth, within the Ganges, there 
are but few of the large villages or towns which have been con- 
quered or frequented by the Mufelmans, in which fome perfons 
will not be found who are fufficiently acquainted with the Ilin- 
duftani language; and in many places beyond the Ganges it is cur- 
rent and familiar. 



Tlie 



134 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



The Bengali is the language fpoken in the provinces of which 
the ancient citj of Gaur was once the capital. It ftill prevails 
throughout Bengal, except perhaps in fome of the frontier dif- 
trids, and is copious, and regularly formed. It is written, not 
in the Deva-nagari, but in a peculiar character adopted by the in- 
habitants of Bengal. The importance of this language is evident, 
from its prevalence throughout the richeft and moll valuable por- 
tion of the Britilli polTeffions in India. 

The language of the province of OrilTa, and the chara61:er in 
which it is written, are both called Urija. It is faid to contain 
many Sanfcrit and Arabic terms, borrowed through the medium 
of Hinduftani, together with others of doubtful origin. 

That which prevails from Madras fouthward, over the greater 
part of the extremity of the peninfula, and in the north of Ceylon, 
is the Tamel, to which Europeans have improperly given the 
name of Malabar. The proper Malabar, a diale6l diftind: from 
the Tamel, is vernacular in Malayala, comprehending the moun- 
tains, and the whole region within them, from Cape Comorin to 
Cape lUi. 

The Maharallitra, or Mahr'atta, is the language of a nation 
which has greatly enlarged its ancient limits, although its progrefs 
has of late been checked by the afcendancy of the Britifli power. 
The language of the Mahr'attas is now widely fpread, but is not 
yet become the vernacular dialedt of any provinces which are 
lituated far beyond the ancient boundaries of their country. 

Carnata, or Carnara, is the ancient language of Carnataca, a 
province which has given name to diftridls on both fides of the 

penin- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



135 



peninfula. This dialed ftill prevails in the intermediate moun- 
tainous tracl, but feems to be fuperfeded by other provincial 
tongues on the eaftern coaft. 

Telinga, or Tilanga, is at once the name of a nation, of its lan- 
guage, and of the character in which that language is written. 
It is widely fpread in the adjacent provinces on either bank of the 
Chrifna and Godaveri, and thofe lituated on the north-ealtern 
coaft of the peninfula. 

Such are, briefly, the ten principal languages of India, to which 
a copious lift might be added of dialedls, forming the third of the 
claifcs into which they were faid to be diltributed. But of thefe 
it is only necefl'ary to mention that of the Panjab, a province wa- 
tered by the five celebrated rivers which fall into the Sind'hu, and 
now in the pofleffion of the Seiks. 

Two other languages, of the firft importance in Afia, remain, how- 
ever, to be noticed ; the Perfian and the Arabic. The Perfian lan- 
guage, befides the extent of it in the empire which bears its name, 
is generally known throughout India". The court of Delhi, after 
the eftablifliment of the Mogul authority, having adopted the ufe 
of the Perfian language in all the tranfadtions of government, the 
Mohammedans, in general, in or above the middle clafs, are in- 
ftruded in it ; and the Hindus, who afpire either to employment 
in our fervicc, or to the recommendation of a liberal education, 
are under the neceftity of learning it. The knowledge of this po- 

° The pure I'erfiaii Is only fpokeii in tlic fouthern part of that empire. It is, 
however, the written language over a great part of Eaftcrn Tartary, and is faid to 
be fpokcn in Eucharia. 

lilhcd 



136 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



lifhed and elegant language thus extends to millions, and through 
its medium the Scriptures maj be widely difFufed in Hinduftan. 

The importance of the Arabic is ftill greater. Independently of 
its diffufion throughout Africa, a continent, which, though not 
immediately connected with our prefent inquiry, may yet be 
juftly taken into collateral contideration, this celebrated language, 
the copioufnefs and elegance of which have been fo highly ex- 
tolled, and fo eloquently defcribed by Oriental fcholars, furniflies 
a vehicle by which the records of our holy faith may be ad- 
vantageoufly conveyed, not only to the Mohammedans of India, 
but to thofe of Arabia, Tartary, and Aliatic Turkey, and in gene- 
ral throughout the Turkifh dominions ; where, though not com- 
monly fpoken, it is taught in the fchools, and univerfally ftudied 
by men of letters, as the learned languages are in Europe. 

In quitting the immediate confideration of Hinduftan, the three 
Afiatic languages, which are the moll important, are the Chinefe, 
the Malay, and the Tartarian. The two firft of thefe, together 
with the Hinduftani and the Periian, are the four primary and po- 
pular languages of Afia. 

Of the importance of the Chinefe it is only neceftary to obferve, 
that it is the language of three hundred millions of men ; that the 
Chinefe charader is underftood from the Gulf of Siam to the Tar- 
tarian Sea, and over a very confiderable part of the great eaftern 
Archipelago ; and that the inhabitants of Cochin China, as well 
as the Japanefe, ufe no other writing ^. The expediency of tranf- 

P See Barrow's China, p. 615. See alfo the Rev. Mr. Mofeley's interefting 
Memoir on the introdutStion of the Scriptures into China ; Firft Report of the So- 
ciety for Miffions to Africa and the Eaft. 

lating 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



137 



lating the Scriptures into the Chinefe language at this time, may- 
be argued from the facilities which now prefent themfelves ; the 
Ipirit of innovation which is fpreading throughout the eaftern part 
of that empire ; the inquifitive character of the Chinefe; and the 
freedom of their prefs, by which copies of the Bible might fpeedily 
be multiplied and difperfed. 

The Tartarian language is probably fpoken over a wider ex- 
tent of country than any other in the world, except the Chinefe. 
It would not, perhaps, be difficult to prove, that it is preva- 
lent even among greater numbers than the Chinefe. The Caftan 
Tartars have been incorporated into the Chinefe fince the year 
1^44; and about the year 1771, there were remarkable emigra- 
tions of Tartars from Ruflia to China. The Tartarian language is 
Ipoken throughout the whole extent of Tartary and the greateft 
part of Perlia 

From this imperfedl Iketch of the principal languages of Afia, it 
will be neceffary to proceed to the a<ftual Hate of tranflations of 
the Scriptures into any of them at this time. 

It is well known, that the Bible has long fince been extant in 
the Arabic tongue, and is contained in the Englifli Polyglot. This 
verlion was probably compofed by fome of the moft learned men 
of Syria and Egypt, at a time when Arabic literature was at its 

t Thefe are hereafter mentioned. 

' The Calniuks have a peculiar language of their own ; and in the neighbour- 
hood of Aftracan, thofe who pretend to learning write the Turkidi language, 
which is little more than the Tartar, refined and enriched by Arabic and Perfian 
words. 

• See note on page 135. 

T zenith. 



138 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



zenith. It has been termed by one celebrated Orientalift " ver- 
fio elegans quidem et antiqua ;" and hy another nobiliffi- 
*' mum totius Teftamenti exemplar :" and fome progrefs was 
made hy the late Profeffor Carlyle of Cambridge towards repub- 
lilhing it, for the purpofe of being circulated in Afia. It has been 
afferted, indeed, hy a writer, whofe authority is too refpedable 
to be lightly queftioned ^, that the republication of the prefent 
Arabic Bible could never be ufeful as a popular work in Arabia, 
being compofed in the claffic, and not in the vernacular, dialed; 
of that country. For a fimilar reafon, he adds, the old Pertian 
tranflation is of no ufe in Perlia 7. As to the Arabic, however, 
there are extant other tranllations of the whole or of parts of the 
Scriptures, from which, and from that of the Polyglot, a new one 
of fufHcient accuracy and utility might be publifhed ^. 

In the year 1719, Bartholomew Ziegenbalgius, the firfi: Pro- 
teftant miffionary to India, completed a tranflation of the whole 
Scriptures into the Tamel tongue, from which feveral other ver- 
fions have proceeded. The Bible has alfo been tranflated into 
the Bengali language by Mr. Carey ^, the Sanfcrit teacher in the 
College of Fort William ; and two editions of it have already been 
diftributed amongft the natives of Bengal. 

From the reprefentations of Dr. Buchanan, it appears, that the 
four Gofpels have been tranflated into the Perfian, Hinduftani, 
Mahr'atta, Orifla, and Malay languages, either by members of the 

* Erpenlus. " Gabriel Sionita. 

* See Dr. Buchanan's Memoir, note M. ^ See note P. 

* The Author has omitted in this enumeration the Syriac and Armenian ver- 
fions, as too well known to require particular notice. 

» See note Q. 

College 



I 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 139 

College of Fort William, or by the learned natives attached to 
that inltitution. One other verlion, alfo, of the higheft import- 
ance has been attempted, that of the whole Scriptures into the 
Chinefe language, and parts of the Book of Genefis and the Gof- 
pel of St. jNIatthevv had, early in the year 1805, been actually 
printed off. A more recent communication from the Rev. David 
Brovi'n, Provoft of the fame College, announces very confiderable 
further progrefs in this important work. Ten different verfions 
are mentioned as being in various llages of forwardnefs, amongll 
which is one in Sanfcrit, The two firfi; Gofpels in this ancient 
language w^ere expected to be ready by the end of the latt year ; 
and it is added, that the Sanfcrit and Chinefe (apparently the moft 
difficult of accefs) had been difcovered to be the moft practicable 
of all the languages yet undertaken. There is every reafon, 
therefore, to prefume, that thefe aufpicious beginnings will be 
progreffivelv continued ; and that the tranflations will, in procefs 
of time, and under the encouragement of the Britifli government, 
be extended to all the Afiatic languages. 

At Karafs, on the frontiers of Ruffia and Circaffia ^, Mr. Brun- 
ton, the Proteftant miffionary, who has been already mentioned, 
has made confiderable progrefs in tranflating the Scriptures into 
the Turkifli language. To this object he has devoted much of his 
time and attention ; and he thinks that he has fucceeded in mak- 
ing fuch a tranflation as will be underftood, not only by the 
Turks, but alfo by the Tartars. 

Such, according to the prefent ftate of our information, is the 
acEtual progrefs which has been made in tranllating the Scriptures 

^ See Brief Hiftoric V^iew prefixed. 
* T 2 into 



no MEANS OF PROPAGATING 

into the Oriental tongues. With the exception of the ancient 
Arabic and Perfian verlions, of the Tamel tranflation, of the Ben- 
gah Bible, and of the undertaking of Mr. Brunton, the feveral im- 
portant verlions which have been before enumerated were en- 
tered upon under the liberal and enlightened aulpices of the Mar- 
quis Weliefley, and under the dired;ion of the College of Fort 
William. 

That thus in the very centre of the Pagan world, and at the 
chief feat of Brahminical fuperftition and idolatry, works fub- 
verlive of their inveterate errors Ihould not only be carried on, 
but be undelignedly forwarded by fome of the unconverted na- 
tives themfelves, is furely a very ftriking proof of that admirable 
direction of the divine Providence, which has been already no- 
ticed, by which the enemies of Chriftianity are made the uncon- 
fcious inftruments of its propagation and fuccefs. And that they 
fhould be undertaken amidft the urgent and diverlified affairs of 
the Britifh government in India, reflects the higheft honour on 
the noble Patron, and the learned and laborious perfons who have 
been engaged in the execution of them. 

In conlidering the beji means of tranfiating the Scriptures into 
the Oriental tongues, it appears to be chiefly neceflary to refer to 
the fads which have been jufl flated. After the progrefs which 
has been already made in the great work of Eaflern tranflation, 
but little doubt can be entertained as to the moft eligible means of 
continuing and completing it. 

Few perfons will, perhaps, be found, who M^ould venture to re- 
commend the undertaking fuch a work in England, in preference 
to India. Whatever be the country into the language of which it 

is 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



141 



is propofed to tranflate the Scriptures, it requires no laboured ar- 
guments to prove, that, without the aid of learned natives who 
may write that language, or hear it read by the tranllator, no work 
of this kind can be profecuted with any confidence of its utility. As 
to this point, the reafoning of Dr. Buchanan, with regard to the 
projected tranflation of the Scriptures into the Chinefe language, 
will probably be confidered as unanfwerable. \Miat that learned 
writer has obferved refped:ing the Chinefe verfion may, in fome de- 
gree, be applied to all other tranflations into the languages of Afia. 

The College of Fort William may with juftice be confidered as 
the grand fource of Oriental tranflation. It is fcarcely potlible to 
contemplate that infiitution, without the mofi: lively convi6lion of 
the extent to which, together with other important defigns, it is 
evidently calculated to promote the diflemination of fcriptural 
knowledge in Afia. The emulation which it has excited in the 
younger fervants of the Eaft India Company in the acquifition of 
the Oriental tongues S and, above all, the numerous aflemblage of 

« May the Author here be permitted to pay a tribute of afTeftionate regret to 
the memory of one of thcfe Oriental ftudcnts, William Pearfon Elliott, Efq. of the 
Bengal Civil Eftablifliment ; whofe extraordinary proficiency in the Perfian, Ilin- 
duftani, and Arabic languages, merited, and procured for him, the highcfl; aca- 
demical honours in the College of Fort William, and led, by the cxprcfs dircftion 
of the Marquis Wellefley, to his appointment as Secretary to a diplomatic mifTion 
to the Arabian States, in the year 1802. In the abfence of Sir Home Popham, to 
whom the direftion of the embaffy had been confided, Mr. Elliott undertook the 
fole conduct of the correfpondence in Arabic, from Mocha, with the Iman of 
Sunnaa, and foon afterwards proceeded to his refidcnce. But within a few days 
after his arrival, he was feized with a fever, which very ftiortly put a period to his 
exiftencc, at the early age of twenty-two years. Such, however, had been the 
ability and propriety with which he had condufled himlclf as Secretary to the 
embafly, tliat the Iman not only fliewcd him the utinoft kindnefs and attention 
during his illnefs, but, as a remarkable proof of his regard, dirc6led that he lliould 

be 



142 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



learned Afiatics'i which it has attracted from different parts of that 
extenfive continent, combine in forming a decifive proof of the 
importance of that inftitution to the interefts of Chriftianity^. 
" In this view," obferves Dr. Buchanan " the Oriental College 
** has been compared by one of our Hindu poets to a ' flood of 
* light fliooting through a dark cloud on a benighted land.' Di- 
reeled by it, the learned natives, from every quarter of India, and 
" from the parts beyond, from Perlia and Arabia, come to the 
fource of knowledge: they mark our principles, ponder the vo- 
lume of infpiration, ' and hear, every man in his own tongue, 
' the wonderful works of God." 

Whether the object be to procure, with the leaft difficulty and 
expence, claffical or popular tranflations of the Scriptures into the 
languages of Afia, the inftitution in queftion offers facilities and 
advantages which were never before prefented, and which it is 

be interred near his pa]ace ; an honour which had never before been conferred on 
any Chriftian. The premature death of Mr. Elliott was lamented by Sir Home 
Popham, in a letter to Lord Wellefley, as a lofs to the public of " a fervant of 

the moft promifing talents, of the higheft principles, and of the mod unbounded 

zeal and application." 

In connexion with the fubjeA of the tranflation of the Scriptures into the lan- 
guages of Afia, the Author trufts that he fliall be excufed, in expreffing the addi- 
tional regret which he cannot but feel at the early removal of one, vvhofe actual 
attainments, and undoubted promife of future progrefs in Oriental learning, com- 
bined with his known difpofition and charafter, would probably have rendered 
him eminently ufeful in promoting the accomplifliment of that important 
obje£t. 

^ There are attached to the College at this time upwards of one hundred learned 
•men, who have arrived from different parts of India, Perfia, and Arabia. 

' It does not appear that the redufitions and limitations, which have been made 
fince the original eftablifhment of the College, materially affe6l the objedl of the 
prefent difcuflion. 

^ Memoir, page 8i. 

in 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



I4S 



in vain to expect will ever be attainable in Europe. Bolides the 
reafons which have been alreadv adduced; the central fituation of 
Calcutta ; the certainty of making fuch tranflations as would be 
really intelligible and ufeful to the Afiatic nations, by the know- 
ledge both of the claffical and vernacular dialects ; and the fmaller 
amount of expence, which may, in almofl every cafe, be ftated at 
one fourth of what would be required in Europe for the accom- 
plifhment of the fame objedls, are arguments fufficient to prove, 
that to the College of Fort William we are directed to look, by 
the plaineft intimations, for the completion of a feries of the molt 
important works in facred literature, to which the divine Provi- 
dence has ever vouchfafcd to direcl the zeal and talents of any 
Chriftian nation. 

After the experience which the learned members of that inltitu- 
tion have long ere this attained in the work of tranllation, it may, 
perhaps, be deemed unnecelfary to enter into any detailed obferv- 
^ations as to the manner in which the different propofed verfions 
fhould be conducted. A few remarks, however, may be allowed, 
which are offered with the utmoft diffidence and refpedt. 

On this part of the fubje6t, the firfl queflion which occurs re- 
lates to the text from which thefe tranflations fliould be made. It 
is undoubtedly to be defired, that the original Scriptures fhould for 
this purpofe, wherever it is poffible, be reforted to ; but as in 
many cafes this is an advantage which cannot be obtained, the 
next befl rcfource is clearly the authorized Englilh verfion. The 
general merits of this tranflation have been univerfally acknow- 
ledged. It is, with few material exceptions, a faithful tranfcript 
of the facred originals. Imperfedions of various kinds have, no 
doubt, been difcovcrcd in it ; but w ith the affi (lance of the nume- 
rous 



144 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



rous tranflations and illuftrations of the Scriptures, which have 
been produced in modern times, they might with Httle difficulty 
be remedied. It is defirable, therefore, that the ProfelTors, or 
other learned Europeans by whom the Oriental verlions may be 
either executed or fuperintended, and who would probably be 
converfant with the Hebrew and Greek languages, fhould dire6t 
their attention to this important point, and avail themfelves of the 
labours of thofe illuftrious Biblical fcholars, which our two Uni- 
verfities, more efpecially that of Oxford, have produced, as well as 
of thofe of the learned foreigners, who have fo largely contributed 
to the general Hock of facred criticifm. 

This confideration leads diredlly to that of the perfons by whom 
the intended tranflations fhould be executed. If it were poffible 
to obtain them by the efforts of Europeans alone, it were in fome 
refpecfts to be preferred. But this can fcarcely be expelled. It 
may be obferved in general, that, in every cafe which admits of a 
choice of tranflators, Chrijiians fliould be fele6ted ; and that in 
every inftance the verfions by unenlightened natives fliould be ex- 
amined by Chriftian profeflbrs, previoufly to their being printed 
and difperfed in Afia. 

The books, of which the facred volume of our Scriptures is com- 
pofed, are fo various, both as to the fubje6ls which they contain, 
and as to the nature of the compofltions, that it can feldom hap- 
pen that any one perfon can be found capable of tranflating every 
part with equal fidelity and propriety. The length of time, alfo, 
which mufl: be occupied by a fingle tranflator in the completion 
of fo large a work, is a further objection to its being thus under- 
taken. It feems, therefore, to be deflrable, wherever it is prad:i- 
cable, to follow the illuftrious examples of the Septuagint, and of 

the 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA, 



145 



the laft revifal of the Englifli Bible, in the reign of James I. Of 
the former, indeed, we know but little that is certainly authentic ; 
except that the tranllation was confided to a large body of learned 
Jews, who are fiippofed to have divided the work amongft 
themfelves, and to have contributed their united abilities to the 
completion of that celebrated performance. In the latter cafe, the 
tranflation and revilion of the different parts of the Englifli Bible 
were entrufted to no lefs than fifty-four of the mod learned Eccle- 
fiaflics of the kingdom, and chiefly refident members of the two 
Univerfities, arranged in fix diviflons, according to their peculiar 
talents and acquirements. Each portion of the work was after- 
wards fubmitted to the other diviflons, for their correction and ap- 
probation ; and collated both with the original Scriptures, and 
with the mofl approved ancient and modern verflons ^. 

Thus, in the different propofed tranflations of the Scriptures into 
the Oriental tongues, it appears to be defirable that they fliould be 
fevcrally undertaken by more than one of the learned profeflbrs or 
teachers, whether natives or Europeans, who are attached to the 
College of Fort William ; that each fliould be reviewed, during its 
progrefs, by all the members of that inltitution who are compe- 
tent to fuch a revifal, and fliould be carefully collated with other 
approved verflons. It is equally necefl'ary that every page, before 
it is publiflied, fliould be read to a native, who fhould be allowed 
to remark on any expreffions which are not idioniatical, or not 
fufficicntly perfpicuous and intelligible. Tranflations into foreign 
languages often fail in very difl'erent ways ; fometimes they are 
too learned, fometimes vulgar, and at others too literal ^. The 



' See Johnfon's Account of the fcveral Englifli Tranflations of the Bible, 
s This remark applies to the Gofpcls in I'crfian pubJiflicU by Wheelock. 

u caution, 



146 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



caution, however, which has already been exercifed relative to this 
point, in the inftance of the fecond edition of the Bengali New 
Teftament, affords fufRcient proof that our learned countrymen in 
India are fully aware of its importance ^. 

In diftributing the Scriptures, thus tranflated, in Afia, it may be 
important in many cafes to confult both the indolence and the 
weaknefs of the natives, by fabmitting to them at firft certain 
parts only of the Bible, which fhould obvioufly be the mofi: mate- 
rial, and the leaft incumbered with difficulties. The Book of Ge- 
nefis, fome parts of the Prophecies of Ifaiah, the Gofpel of St. 
Luke', the A6ls of the Apoitles, and the Epiftle to the Romans, 
feem to be the befl calculated for immediate difperfion. Other 
portions might follow in due time ; and every part fhould be ac- 
companied by an introduction, exhibiting a brief view of the evi- 
dences of the divine origin and truth of the feveral books of 
which it may be compofed, and of their fubje6ls and connexion, 
together with other needful elucidations of the facred waiters. 

The expence which muft necefTarily attend this great work of 
Oriental tranflation, and of printing, in fufRcient numbers, copies 
of the various facred verfions, though much lefs than would attend 
a fimilar undertaking in England, would fi:ill be fo confiderable as 
to demand particular attention. But in a concern, the ultimate 
advantages of which would be fcarcely lefs enjoyed by the Britifh 
government, than by the obje6ls of its beneficence, it may be pre- 
fumed, that an appeal to its liberality would not prove unfuccefs- 
ful. The enhghtened policy, which fuggeiied the eflablifhment of 

See note R. 

' The' learned Melanchthon preferred that of St. John, as an introduction to 
Chriftianit\% 

the 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



147 



the College of Fort William, could not be dire(^led to a more con- 
genial meafure, than the encouragement of Scriptural tranflation 
into thofe languages, of which it has already fo remarkably facili- 
^ tated the acquifition. The affiftance, which it is propofed to fo- 
hcit from the government of India, could not be an objedl of 
much confideration ; and the limits of it might be readily afcer- 
tained, by a reference to thofe perfons to whom the execution of 
the work itfelf may be entrufted. 

In addition to the encouragement and affiftance to be thus 
afforded by the Britifh government, the College of Fort Wil- 
liam, as the centre of Oriental tranflation, has the ftrongeli; claims 
on the patronage and fupport of every European inftitution, 
which is either directly or remotely connedled with that im- 
portant objecl. Two focieties in our own country are particularly 
interefted in its welfare ; the Society for promoting Chriftian 
Knowledge, which has during a long courfe of years fo laudably 
diftinguiflied itfelf by its miflions in Hinduftan ; and the lately 
inftituted Britifli and Foreign Bible Society. To thefe inftitu- 
tions the College of Fort William vs ill naturally look for counte- 
nance and aflillancc; and it is to be hoped that it will not look in 
vain 

The two celebrated Univerfities of England mav, alfo, with 
propriety be expected to regard with peculiar complacency the 
College of Fort William, and feel themfelvcs bound to wifli for its 
profperity, and to promote its ufefulncfs to the utmoll of their 
power. The diftinguiflied honour which they have long enjoyed 
of diffuflng, in a preeminent degree, literature, fcience, and reli- 



Sec note S. 
U 2 



gion, 



148 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



gion, and more particularly the extent to which they are engaged 
in the printing and diftribution of the Scriptures throughout the 
Britifh empire, may be confidered as a pledge of the lively intereft 
which they will take in the diflemination of the fame bleffings 
in the Eaftern world. And although the aftual tranflation of 
the Bible into the Oriental tongues has, for the reafons before 
ftated, been recommended to be undertaken by the collegiate in- 
ftitution in Hindullan, it cannot be doubted, that the learned mem-' 
bers of that fociety would not only deem themfelves honoured by 
the patronage of the two Univerfities, but might receive much im- 
portant affiftance from the celebrated Orientalifts who feverally 
adorn them^ Under fuch aufpices, the difficult and laborious 
duty of Eaftern tranflation might be juftly contemplated with 
augmented hopes of completion and fuccefs. 

It is impoffible to clofe this part of the fubjeft, without once 
more recurring to the importance of that inftitution, to which the 
work of tranflating the Scriptures into the Oriental tongues has 
been recommended, and upon which, if ever accompliflied, it will 
chiefly devolve. 

The College of Fort William, whether confidered with reference 
to India or to Britain, cannot be too highly appreciated. It has 
indeed been obje6ted to on the ground of the expence in which 
it has involved the Eaft India Company. But it may be fafely 
affirmed, that had this even exceeded what has been actually 
incurred, the benefits which the College has already been the * 
means of conferring on the Britifli government, and which it mufl: 

' It can fcarcely be necefiary to mention the names of Dr. White, the learned 
Regius Profeflbr of Hebrew, and Laudian Profeflbr of Arabic, and of Dr. Ford, the 
Lord Almoner's Prseleftor in the latter tongue, in the Univerfity of Oxford. 

con- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



continue to enfure to it, fo long, at leaft, as the conduct of it fliall 
be ftricllj conformable to the rules of its inftitution, will be an 
ample compenfation. The incrcafed ability, energy, and fecuritj, 
which it has afforded to the Britifli adminillration of Oriental 
affairs, are fufhcient to chara(fterize it as a meafure of profound 
policy, and of the moll enlarged benevolence. To the natives of 
India, and eventually of the whole continent of Alia, the advan- 
tages of this learned inftitution are incalculable. Their progrefTive 
improvement and happinefs are intimately connected with it, and 
in no point of view more manifeftly, than as it is calculated to 
be the fountain of Scriptural tranflation ; the fource, whence thofe 
ftreams of divine knowledge, wifdom, and comfort may flow, 
which can alone enlighten and civilize the Eaftern world. 



4 



si:cT. 



150 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



SECT. II. 
AN ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT. 



ARGUMENT. 

Neceffity of this as preliminary to other meafures — 'Evils arijing from the want of it — 
Probable effeSl offuch an EJlablifhment on the Hindus. Extent and expencc of it — 
Its ohje£ls — Chara8,er of its members. 



Th E tranflation of the Scriptures into the Oriental languages, as 
one of the primary and moft important means of promoting Chrif- 
tianity in Afia, might be fafely committed to the members of the 
College of Fort William, the heads of which inftitution have hi- 
therto confifted of the fenior Chaplains to the Prefidency of Ben- 
gal. The efFeAs, which might be gradually produced on the 
minds of the well educated natives, by the limple difperlion of the 
Scriptures, would fully reward the labour and expence of fuch a 
meafure, by dilTeminating amongft them Chriftian principles, and 
by preparing them for the rejection of Pagan errors and fuperfti- 
tion, and the formal reception of the Chriftian religion. It can- 
not, however, be reafonably expelled, that any meafure of this 
kind, unfupported by other means of promoting the inftruAion 
and civilization of the natives, can be fpeedily or extenfively fuc- 
cefsful. Compared with the great body of the people in every 
country in Afia, the number of thofe who would either be dif- 

pofed, 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



151 



pofed, or qualified by a knowledge of letters, to read the Scrip- 
tures with attention and underltanding, would be very fmall. 
The ignorant and fervile multitude would ftill be left amidft the 
darknefs and depravity of their ancient fuperltition. 

Previoufly, therefore, to the adoption of any dired; and com- 
prehenfive means for the inftruclion of the natives in general, 
there is one meafure to be taken, which appears to be of indif- 
penfable obligation. There ought to be a vilible Eftablifliment 
of the Chriftian religion, amongll: the Britifli fubjects in India. 
The expediency of fuch an Eftablifliment, both as the means of 
perpetuating Chriftianity amongft: our own countrymen, and 
as a foundation for the ultimate civilization of the natives, has 
been very ably, and, as it feems, concluHvely argued by the pro- 
pofer of the prefent inquiry, in his Memoir on that important 
fubjed:. To prove the propriety or neceffity of an Ecclefiaftical 
Eftablifhment for Britifli India, a view is given in that work of 
the very inadequate ftate of the Englifli Church at the prefent 
time, in our Oriental empire. Various evils of great magnitude 
are pointed out as refulting from this national delicicncy, both as 
they refpccl the European and the native inhabitants of India. 
With the former of thefc, except as they are connedled with the 
latter, the prefent difcuflion is not immediately concerned. 

The confequences of the want of religious inftrudion, and the 
ncgleA of religious inftitutions, which have hitherto been fo la- 
mentably confpicuous throughout India, cannot but have been 
highly prejudicial, not only to our countrymen as individuals, but 
to the national reputation and intcrclis. Although the grofs rc- 
riexions which were formerlyaccuflomed to be thrown out, as to Bri- 
tifli immorality in the Eafl:, (whether jullly or not, at Icalt to their 

utmoll 



152 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



utmoft extent, may be fairly doubted,) have long fince ceafed to 
be well founded, it is very generally admitted, that the eftablifli- 
ment of Chaplains in Hinduftan has been infufficient to preferve 
even the forms of our holy religion in the greater number of the 
civil retidencies, and military ftations ; and it may be readily con- 
cluded, that fuch a deficiency is calculated to excite the moll un- 
favourable impreffions on the minds of the refle6ling natives, with 
refpedl to the ftate of Chrillianity amongft the Englith who relide 
in India. Such an impreffion, alfo, it muft be obferved, will not 
be lefs felt, though many of our countrymen, in the abfence of all 
opportunity of public worftiip, fhould, as it cannot be doubted is 
the cafe, maintain regular habits of private devotion. 

It is the public and authorized adminiftration of Chriftian infti- 
tutions which is required, both as to Europeans and natives, for 
the purpofe of producing any ftriking and permanent effedl. It 
is well known, that in thofe parts of the Britifli empire in Hin- 
duftan, in which there are no minifters of religion, the Sabbath is 
fo entirely forgotten, that the only circumftance by which it is 
diftinguifhed is the difplay of the Britith Flag ; whilll our coun- 
trymen openly profane that facred day, by purfuing their ordi- 
nary occupations, in common with the Hindus. This lingle fad; 
is fufiicient to point out the mifchiefs which muft flow from the 
infufficiency of the prefent religious appointments in India. Al- 
though we may be allowed to doubt, whether the natives, in ge- 
neral, entertain the opinion which has been afcribed to them, as 
to the total abfence of religious faith in the Britifli refidents 
amongft them, or their entire indifference to it, it is indifputable, 
that the appearance of neglect, which is fo manifeft around them, 
muft lead them to queftion their fenfe of the importance of their 
national religion, or their flncerity in profefflng it ; and mufl, 

con- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



153 



confequently, difpofe them to entertain no very exalted opinion 
of its excellence 

It is certain, therefore, that if the means of religious inftru6lion 
and worfhip fliould be generally afforded to our countrymen, in 
fituations where the number of Britilli refidents is confiderable, 
and a general difpofition to avail themfelves of thofe means fhould 
be manifefted, the refped; of the natives of India for the Chriftian 
religion, thus rendered vijible through its inftitutions, would be pro- 
portionably increafed, and their minds might be prepared for the fa- 
vourable reception of more direct meafures for their converfion. It 
needs fcarcely be added, that the moral and religious improvement 
of our countrymen, by means of the opportunities afforded them of 
Chriflian inftruAion, would tend to excite both the attention and 
the reverence of the natives towards the perfons and the religion 
of thofe, whofe conduct fhould be thus exemplary. 

That fome more fuitable provifion fhould be made for the due 
performance of the ordinances of the eflabliflied religion in our 
Oriental dominions, has long fince been confidered as a juft and 
neceffary meafure. It does not, however, become any private 
perfon to decide as to the propriety of the extenfive eflablifliment 
propofed by Dr. Buchanan. It is true, that, by the late ceflions and 
conqucfis in Hinduflan, the revenue of the Eafl India Company has 
been greatly augmented : but it would be erroneous to conclude, as 
feems to be intimated " by that writer, that there is a large unap- 
propriated J'urpliis of revenue, beyond the neceflary expenditure 
of the Company o. In the prefent flate of Eafl Indian finances, 

"> See note T. ■ See Memoir, page 12. 

• See the Chriftian Obfervcr for May 1806. 

X ob- 



154 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



objections of a very formidable kind may, indeed, be raifed, on 
the ground of expence, to the full adoption of his plan. The de- 
termination of this point refts, however, with thofe to whom the 
financial department of the Eaft India Company is entrufted ; and 
it is earneftly to be hoped, that the fubjeCl will be confidered 
with that enlarged and liberal attention, which it undoubtedly de- 
ferves. If, under all the exifting difficulties of the Company, the 
ellablifliment propofed by Dr. Buchanan fhould be deemed too 
extenfive, it may ftill be practicable to augment the number of 
Chaplains, fo that the military ftations, and the principal towns 
where the alTemblage of Europeans is confiderable, might be pro- 
vided with them, without any alarming increafe of expenditure. 
Such an increafed eftablifhment might, alfo, be fo organized as to 
prefent, what is an objeCt of the higheft importance in Alia, an 
appearance of national attention and concern, and of weight and 
dignity, by the appointment of one or two Eccletiaftics of the 
Epifcopal order, without any additional burden which deferves to 
be confidered in a work of fuch national magnitude and concern. 
It has been generally underfiiood, that fome meafare of this kind 
has been long in contemplation, and that the execution of it, fo 
fer as the increafe of Chaplains is concerned, is actually begun. 

The necefiity of fome local and dignified efiablifhment of our 
national religion, for the purpofe of promoting the improvement 
of the natives of India, and other Oriental regions, can fcarcely be 
doubted by anv, who are difpofed to confider that meafure as ob- 
ligatory on our principles, or beneficial in its tendency. Inde- 
pendently of the importance of fome eftablifliment of that nature, 
however contracted in its extent, as to its religious influence on 
our own countrymen, and its probable efieCts on the minds of the 
natives, in embodying Chrifiiianity, and exhibiting it in a more 

public 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



155 



public and commanding point of view, various advantages would 
be derived from it, towards the accomplilliment of the great work 
of difFuling in Afia the principles and the bleffings of our holy re- 
ligion. In the choice and in the application of appropriate means 
for promoting this important objedl, it is obvious, that much local 
information, and much prudence and judgment, will be required ; 
and although the direction of every meafure of this kind exclu- 
fively belongs to the government itfelf, no perfons would be likely 
to be more interefted in its accomplifhment, or better qualified by 
their ttation and habits to advife and to affift in the execution of 
fuch meafures, than that body of able and experienced Clergy, 
who may be entrufted with the fuperintendence of the eccleliafti- 
cal affairs of our Oriental empire. On all thefe accounts it would 
feem evident, that an Eftablilliment of the nature which has been 
now recommended is abfolutely required, as a preliminary to the 
effective organization of any plan for the diffufion of Chriftian 
knowledge in Afia. 

One important advantage, which would arifc out of fuch an 
eftablithment, remains yet to be mentioned ; namely, the Epifco- 
pal power of Ordination ; both for the purpofe of fecuring a con- 
ftant fupply of Clergymen, for the exercife of facred functions 
amongft the European inhabitants of Afia ; and alfo of providing 
inftrudlors for the natives. The want of fuch a power for the 
former purpofe has long been felt and lamented P ; and it may be 
prefumed, that, in the courfe of time, fome of the converted na- 
tives may be found fuffciently qualified for the minitlerial office 
for the infl:ru6lion of their own countrymen. 

It has been regretted, that Dr. Buchanan, in arguing the expe- 



P Memoir, page lo. 
X 2 



diency 



\5Q MEANS OF PROPAGATING 

^iency of an Eccleliaftical Eftablifhment in India, with reference 
to the civil and religious improvement of the natives, fhould not 
have been more full and explicit in detailing the intermediate 
fteps between the caufe and its alleged confequences. Something 
of this kind has been attempted in the preceding obfervations. 
But in order clearly to demonftrate this connexion, nothing fur- 
ther feems in fadl to be neceffary, than limply to refer to two 
points which have been already proved; namely, the importance 
of an Eftablifliment for the promotion of Chriftianity, not merely 
among the Britifli refidents in India, but alfo among the Hindus ; 
and the tendency of that religion to civilize and improve man- 
kind. 

One additional remark, however, is too momentous to be omit- 
ted. The influence of an Epifcopal eftablifhment, in promoting 
Chriftanity amongft the natives of Afia, will materially depend on 
the charaders of thofe who prejide over it, and of the various Jiibor- 
dinate members who compofe it. Admitting, what it may be hoped 
would not prove other wife, that the Oriental Clergy fhould not 
only be men of virtue, talents, and learning, but animated with 
found and enlightened piety, and apoftolic zeal ; fuch as have dif- 
tinguifhed many of the Proteftant miffionaries who have, during 
the laft century, devoted their lives to the fervice of the Hindus, 
and whofe names are ftill held in honour amongft them ; the moft 
fanguine expectations may be juftly formed of the fuccefs of their 
exertions amongft the natives. But, if it may, on the contrary, 
be allowable to imagine the poflibility of their lukewarm nefs or 
indifference in the facred caufe of the converfion of the natives ; 
if they fhould not even feel an ardent defire for the accomplifti- 
ment of the work ; our expectations would be greatly dilap- 
pointed. 

Complaints 



I 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 157 

Complaints have, indeed been made refpedling the charadlers 
and difpotitions of fome of thofe who have hitherto -fupported the 
clerical character amongft our countrymen in Hindullan. It is, 
however, devoutly to be wallied, that in the event of an Eccleti- 
aflical Eflablitliment being given to Britith India, they, and they 
only, will be deemed worthy of becoming members of it, whofe 
zeal and anxiety in promoting the inftruclion of the natives may 
not only prompt them to advife the beft means for accompliflaing 
this great purpofe, but may excite them perfonally to engage in 
the adlive labours necelTary to effect it ; and thus reftore to the 
Englifli Church that character for apoftolic earneftnefs and charity 
in the converfion of the Heathen, which it once poiTelled ; but 
which, notwithftanding the patronage and efforts of fome of its 
laudable Societies, which have been already mentioned, cannot, 
for many centuries, be claimed on her behalf, by the moft faith- 
ful and zealous of her fons. 

*> See Dr. Tennant's Indian Recreations, Vol. T. feft. 9. 



SECT. 



158 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



SECT. III. 

MISSIONS. 



ARGUMENT. 

NeceJJity of fome direB and appropriate means for promoting Chr 'ijlian Inouiledge in 
AJia — The fubje£i of mijjions — Opinion of Sir IVilUam Jones refpe£iing it — Defence 
of miffions, from Scripture, from the practice of the Chrijiian Churchy from rational 
arguments — ObjeSions anfwered — Tejlimonies as to the importance of miffions in the 
Eaji — Siiccefs of modern attempts of this kind — Affertions of JDr. Robertfon and 
others refuted — Miffions of the Society for promoting Chrijiian Knowledge — Szaarlz 
— The Bapti/l miffonarics — CharaBer of Ajiatic converts — Propriety of fome further 
encouragement of miffionaries in India — Vropofal of an inftitution for mijjionaries in 
England — general plan of it — CharaBer of a true mijfionary — his duties — dijlribu- 
tion of the Scriptures, and religious traBs. 



Although it appears to be undeniable, that the civil and mo- 
ral improvement of the Pagan and Mohammedan natives of Alia 
will never be effected bj any other means than by the difFuIion 
of Chriftian knowledge ; and although an Ecclefiaftical Eftablifli- 
ment feems to be neceflary as a previous ftep towards promoting 
that defirable obje6l ; it is no lefs certain, that fuch an Etlablifh- 
ment may fubfift in Bengal for a great length of time, without 
producing any very extentive or important influence, unlefs fome 
dircB and appropriate means are ufed for its accomplifhment. 



When the expediency of civilizing our Aliatic fubje6ls was agi- 
tated in Parhament in the year 1 793, a propofition was made for 

an 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



159 



an eftablifliment of miffionaries and fchoolmafters" for that pnr- 
pofe. The v^•hoIe defign was, however, then pollponed, on the 
ground of the unfeafonablenefs of the time for entering on fach 
an undertaking. A contiderable degree of prejudice and jealoufy 
feems, alfo, to have exifted at that period refpe^ting the very idea of 
employing miffionaries as the inftruments of dilfufing Chriftianity 
in Afia. As fome inflitution of the nature then propofed appears, 
however, to be indifpenfably neceflary for promoting that great 
defign, it may be proper to prcmife a few obfervations on the pro- 
priety of fuch a mode of inftrudlion. 

In quoting the opinion of the late Sir William Jones refpedling 
the tranflation of fome parts of the Scriptures, for the purpofe of 
difperfing them amongfi: the well-educated natives of Hinduftan, 
we had occafion to include his general fentiment rcfpe6ling the 
probable fuccefs of miffionaries. " We may allure ourfelves," 
fays that admirable author, " that neither Mufelmans nor Hindus 
" will ever be converted by any miffion from the Church of 
" Rome, or from any other Church 

An opinion, cxprefl'ed in fo dccifive a manner, by one, to whofe 
authority, on every point conneded with Oriental literature and 
manners, the world has been accultomcd to pay implicit defe- 
rence, will, it is to be feared, be confidered by many as conclufive 
of the qucfiion. It may, however, be fairly doubted, whether 
further experience of the difpofitions of the Hindus, together with 
the progrefs which has been fo unexpectedly made, fince the elhi- 
blilhment of the College of Fort Williani, in the lludy of tlu^ Ori- 
ental languages and literature, and the diminilhed prejudices of 

' See the paflage as before quoted, page 130. 

the 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



the Brahmins ; or whether, above all, a more patient confidera- 
tion of the fubjed; of millions, might not have tended to alter, or, 
at leaft, to foften, fomewhat of the rigour of that determination. 
Yet, although it vrould have been highly gratifying to have been 
fupported in a contrary opinion by that of Sir William Jones, it 
is warranted by fuch a combination of evidence and authority, as 
to be fully equal to maintain its ground, though deprived of that 
advantage. 

The propriety and the necejjlty of fending mijjionaries for the 
converfion of heathen nations to the Chritlian faith, reft on the 
authority of Scripture, the practice of the apoftolic age, the ex- 
ample of the Church in every fucceeding century, and the reafon- 
ablenefs of the meafure itfelf. 

The commiffion which was given by the divine Author of 
Chriftianity to his Apoftles, juft before his afcenlion % is alone a 
fufficient apology for Chriftian millions in all ages : " Go ye, and 
" teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
" and of the Son, and of the Holy Gholl ; teaching them to ob- 
" ferve all things, whatfoever I have commanded you : and lo, I 
" am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It cannot 
be maintained, that this commiffion muft be reftrid:ed to the 
Apoftles, for this limple and deciftve reafon ; that, as the promife 
of encouragement and fupport to thofe who Ihould engage in 
the arduous work of propagating Chriftianity is exprefsly ex- 
tended to the end of the world, it neceflarily follows, that the 
duty, for which fuch a promife was provided, muft be commen- 
furate to it in duration. 

' Matthew xxviii. 19, 30. 

But 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



161 



But it may be faid, that the Apoftles poflefled the power of 
working miracles, and that this effentially diftinguifhed them from 
all others who fliould in after-ages attempt to convert the hea- 
then. To this it may be replied, that the evidence of their divine 
commilTion by no means appears to have refted wholly on mira- 
cles, although they undoubtedly formed a primary and important 
part of it. The hiftorical and internal evidences of the Gofpel, 
abftradled from every circumftance of a miraculous nature, were 
almoft equally intifted on, as thofe which ought to weigh with 
every reafonable mind, and as impofing the duty of receiving it 
on every one to whom fuch proofs fbould be fairly prefented. 
Obedience, alfo, to divine revelation is binding, not only on thofe 
who witnefs the performance of miracles by the perfon who pro- 
pounds it, but on thofe to whom it is made known by one w\io 
brings inconteftable evidence of miracles having been originally 
wrought in atteftation of Chriftianity. 

Miraculous powers were clearly not in all cafes eflcntial to the 
propagation of Chriftianity even in the Apoftolic age. Many 
preached to the Gentiles who were deflitutc of the power of 
working them ; and the Scriptures no where mention the poflef- 
fion of it as a necefl'ary qualification or condition for fprcading the 
Gofpel. If the cafe were otherwife, it would, moreover, follow, 
that, when miraculous gifts ceafed in the Church, Chrillianity 
would alfo have ceafed to be promulgated in tlie heathen world. 
But it has already appeared S that niinionarics laboured zcaloully 
and fuccefsfuUy in the converfion of Pagan nations during many 
centuries after the period, at which they were unquellionably 
withdrawn. 



' Sec the Brief Iliftoric View prefixed, paflliu. 

r Miracles 



162 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



Miracles were neceflary in the earlieft ages, (amongft other rea- 
fons,) becaufe the Gofpel was to be preached throughout the 
world in a fliort time, and by a few perfons, whofe lives and la- 
bours would otherwife have been inadequate to its fuccefsful 
and extenfive propagation. But the Church of Chrill was fuf- 
ficiently eftablifhed during the firft three centuries to admit 
of its being left to the ordinary fuperintendance and fupport 
of its divine Author. Not that it is to be concluded, that, be- 
caufe thefe more evident and extraordinary teftimonies of its 
heavenly origin were withdrawn, the propagation of Chriftianity 
was no longer an objed: of the divine concern, or any part of 
the duty of the Chriftian Church. The promife of its exalted 
Head, that he would be with it to the end of the world, con- 
ftituted, as it has been already obferved, both an implied obliga- 
tion on its governors to extend its limits, and an encouragement 
to engage in the important work. And although the difficulties in 
the cafe of every attempt to evangelize the heathen are, in confe- 
quence, greatly increafed, the affiftance and bleffing of Heaven are 
confidently to be expelled and relied on, in the zealous and faith- 
ful ufe of thofe rational means of awakening and inftrudling them 
which are propofed ; and the fuccefs, which is at any time expe- 
rienced, is equally to be afcribed to the influence of Him, " from 
" whom Cometh down every good and perfe61: gift" to man. 
** The exertion of this power," as it has been juftly obferved'^, "is 
" not miraculous, becaufe it is not a deviation from the regular 

" It is not, however, intended by this remark to deny that miraculous gifts were 
not in a certain degree continued in the Church, and exerclfed on evidently great 
and neceffary occafions, fubfequent to this period. See Brief Hiftoric View, and 
note D. 

^ See Mr. Venn's Addrefs to four Miflionaries to Africa. Appendix to the Sixth 
Anniverfary Sermon before the Society for Miffions to Africa and the Eaft. 

" fyftem ; 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



** fyftem ; it acls according to an appointed courfe ; it has been 
*' promifed generally; and it operates daily in purifying the hearts 
" of thofe who receive the Golpel : but certainly the efBcacy at- 
" tending the preaching of the word in reforming mankind, is as 
** truly and properly a divine work, as the moft fignal miracle 
which was ever performed. The difference lies not in the 
" power, but in the mode of its application." 

But it may, perhaps, be faid, that the difficulties of the work 
are too great to be overcome, and that the fuccefs of modern mif- 
fions is not fuch as to excite very fanguine hopes of producing any 
falutary efFed; by extending them in Afia. 

The difficulties which oppofe the progrefs of the Chriftian mif- 
fionary in the prefent day in any Pagan country, and more efpe- 
cially in Hinduftan, are, undoubtedly, of a very formidable nature. 
They have, however, evidently appeared/ to be leflening within 
the laft twenty years, particularly with refpccl to one great obfta- 
cle, namely, of our ignorance of the native languages. 

But whatever may be the nature of thcfe difficulties, the quef- 
tion may be refolved into a narrow compafs. Do \ye believe that 
the kingdom of Chrill, according to a feries of undoubted prophe- 
cies, is to be extended throughout the world in fome future age ; 
and are not means to be employed fimilar to tholb which were 
originally appointed for that purpofe ? Is the want of univerfality 
objected to our holy religion by the infidel ; and are attempts for 
the pra6lical confutation of fuch an objeclion to be difcouragcd 
and fruftrated } Are human efforts concerned in the accomplilh- 



' See Part II. chap. i. 
T 2 



ment 



l64 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



ment of moll of the benevolent defigns of the divine Providence for 
the good of mankind ; and are thej in this, the moft important of 
all, to be excluded ? Or fliall we, in the true fpirit of enthufiafm, 
exped fome miraculous diredion of Providence, and neglect the 
plainefl indications of the divine w^ill ? If the anfwers to thefe 
queftions Ihould appear fufficiently obvious, it may be confidently 
added in the language of an Apoftle, with refpecl to heathen na- 
tions, " How fliall they believe in Him of whom they have not 
*' heard ? and how £hall they hear without a preacher f and how 
** fliall they preach except they be fent 

This is the mode which God has ever adopted, in order to effed; 
any confiderable reformation amongfl: mankind. He has been 
pleafed to make men dependent on each other in various ways ; 
and to communicate his blefllngs to them in general by means of 
their fellow-creatures. Every nation which has embraced the 
Chrifl;ian faith has, in fome meafure, owed its reception of fo great 
a blefllng to the piety and zeal of difinterefl:ed men, whom the 
love of Chriil, and compaflion for their brethren, conftrained to 
proclaim to it the glad tidings of the Gofpel. If Afia, therefore, 
ever receive the faith of Chrift, it muft partly owe it to the fuC" 
cefsful labours of miflionaries. 

Teftimonies in fupport of their employment in the propagation 
of Chriftianity in unenlightened countries might eafily be multi- 
plied. But the pra6lice of the Chriftian Church, in its pureft, and 
even during its darkell ages, is alone fufEcient to fliew the fenfe 
which has ever been entertained of that meafure by the mofl com- 
petent judges of its propriety. 

With refped to India, however, it may not feem a circumflancc 

to 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



165 



to be altogether difregarded, that fome of the younger fervants of 
the Eaft India Company in the College of Fort William fhould 
have lirenuoufly pleaded for the introducflion of miffionaries, for 
the purpofe of promoting the improvement of the natives. The 
expediency of this meafiire is thus argued by one of the lludents ^ 
alluded to. " From the peculiar opportunities enjoyed by Chril- 
" tian miffionaries of inveftigating the Ipirit of Hindu theology, 
" and of exploring the ll:ru6lure of their language ; but more par- 
" ticularly from the unreferved communication which it mull ever 
" be their objecT; to encourage and promote, much folid informa- 
** tion on thefe important points may juflly be expected. Nu- 
" merous, indeed, arc the advantages to be derived from the ardent 
" diligence and unremitting toil of lueU-informed and zealous mif- 
" Jionarics. Difengaged from the fond attachment of their native 
country, imprcflcd by the decpell fenfe of duty, and eager to 
" diffufe the divine light of revelation, may we not expedl to fee 
" this night of more than Egyptian darknefs lucceedcd by the 
" glorious cloud-difpelling dawn of Chrillianity ? And may we 
" not hope to find this ignorant and deluded people learning juf- 
" tice from its Law, and mercy from its Gofpel ?" 

Of the importance of miffionaries in India, another intelligent 
and more experienced witnefs, then refident in that country, may 
be advantagcoufly heard. " If my ftatement," he obferves " be 
" really applicable to the general chara6ler of the natives, high 

and low, a change can only be effi:^cled gradually ; but if any 
" thing is done, it muft be by means of introducing among the 
" natives men who poffefs an intimate knowledge of their lan- 

* Mr. Martin, in a volume of Efliiys by Students in the College of Fort Wil- 
liam, page 58. 

• See Letter to Dr. Vincent, ut fupra. 

" guages, 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



" guages, and who fliew examples in their own perfons of reli- 
" gion, virtue, contempt of riches, (fuch, and fuch only, ought the 
" miffionaries to be,) patience, and conciHating manners. Would 
" the eftablifhment of many fuch men have no beneficial effed on 
" the morality of the natives ? Surely it would—" 

But it has been frequently and confidently alTerted, that thefuc- 
cejs of modern miffions in general, and particularly of thofe which 
have been fent into Afia, has not been fufficient to encourage the 
continuance of fuch a mode of propagating the Chrillian rehgion 
in that continent. 

So far as this afiertion refpe(9:s the miffions from the Church of 
Rome in the fixteenth and two following centuries, efpecially thofe 
which were condu6led by the Jefuits, there can be no doubt that 
it is partly well founded ; but the reafons of their want of real 
though not of nominal fuccefs have already been ftated ^, and are 
too well known to require any particular expofition of them. 

The fame fentiment has, however, been extended to the labours 
of Proteftant miffionaries. Their fuccefs has been faid to have been 
very trifling, and the converfions they may have made to have been 
of an equivocal and unimportant nature. To convert or to be 
*' converted," fays Dr. Robertfon, *' are ideas equally repugnant to 
" the principles moft deeply rooted in" the mind of a Hindu, " nor 
" can either the Catholic or Proteftant miffionaries in India boaft 

of having overcome thefe prejudices, except among a few in the 
" loweft cafts, or of fuch as have lofl: their caft altogether. Notwith- 
*' Handing the labours of miffionaries for upwards of two hundred 

^ See Brief Hiftoric View prefixed, page 50. 

years. 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



" years," (fays a late ingenious writer " and the eftablilliments 
" of different Chriltian nations who fupport and protedl them ; 
" out of perhaps one hundred miUions of Hindus, there are not 
" twelve thoufand Chriftians, and thofe almoft entirely Chancalas, 
" or outcafts 

If thefe affertions of the eloquent hiftorian, and of the writer 
from whom he quotes fome part of them, were well founded, they 
might form a very llrong objedf ion not only to the employment 
of miflionaries, but to the very dejign of propagating Chriftianity 
in the Eaft. But the truth is, that they are by no means fup- 
ported by faAs. Subfequent inquiry and information have fliewn, 
that the fuccefs of the labours of Proteftant milfionaries in India 
has been far more confiderable than the WTiters in queftion have 
reprefented it, and of fuch a nature as to excite fanguine hopes of 
further progrefs, under the more favourable circumftances which 
adlually exift. 

The admirable apology of Mr. Swartz<=, which has been already 
referred to, and which was occalioned by fome injurious aflertions 
refpedling his fuccefs as a miffionary, and the character of the na- 
tive Chrillians, contains a llmple but energetic llatement, which 
alone affords decifive evidence of the importance of the Eall India 
milTion. The fingular modelty of the venerable miilionary, a man 
antiqud virtutc acjide, rcftrained him from dwelling on the extra- 
ordinary fuccefs of himfelf, and of his fellow labourer Mr. Gericke, 
(now alfo removed from his arduous and honourable employ- 

« Sketches relating to the Hiftory, Religion, Learning, and Manners of the Hin- 
dus, page 48. 

See Kobcrtfon's Difquifition concerning Ancient India, note 40. 
• Sec Letter of Swartz, ut fupra. 

mcnt,) 



l68 ' MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



ment,) in the converlion of multitudes of the natives to Chrifti- 
anity. He confined himfelf principally to an enumeration of 
well known fad:s, to prove the important fecular fervices which 
they had rendered to the Englifh government on feveral occafions 
of a very difficult and critical nature, and the confidence which 
the natives repofed in their integrity. Thefe fervices of the mif- 
lionaries were acknowledged by the government of Madras, and 
by the Rajah of Tanjore. The latter prince exprelTed his fenfe of 
them by a grant of land for the fupport of the miffion in his 
dominions ; and appointed Mr. Swartz guardian to his family. 
The death of this Apoftolic mifiionary was lamented by the 
Hindus as a public and irreparable calamity ; and his memory 
was perpetuated by the refpe6tful and afFe6lionate attachment of 
the prefent Rajah of Tanjore ; who has erected a monument to 
him in the Chriftian church which is in his capital, to manifefl: 
his veneration and gratitude Jhr him whom he calls his father and 
his friend ^ 

It is to be regretted, that no detailed and minute account has 
hitherto been publifhed of the numbers of the natives, who have 
been converted to Chriftianity fince the efi:ablifliment of the Pro- 
teftant miffion in India at the commencement of the lafi: century, 
and of the nature of their acquaintance with our holy faith ^. 
The general declarations of competent witneffes muft therefore be 
reforted to. 

It appears from various undoubted tefl;imonies, that by the la- 

*' See Society's Proceedings for 1801. 

e Such an account might, perhaps, be colle6led by referring to the periodical 
Proceedings of the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, fo far as the mif- 
lionaries under its patronage are concerned, and would furnifli a fatisfadory reply 
to the objedlion now under confideration. 

hours 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 169 

hours of Ziegenbalgh ^, and his immediate ruccelTors, Chriftian 
Churches were planted in different parts on the coaft of Coro- 
mandel, which have been conftantly increaling their numbers to 
the prefent time. 

The zealous exertions of the venerable Swartz, during the pe- 
riod of half a century, were crowned with fignal fuccefs in feveral 
different provinces in the fouth of the peninfula ; and the labours 
of Mr. Gericke, and his aflbciates, have been, and continue to be, 
eminently profperous '. 

Of the rapid extenfion of Chriftianity in the difi:ri(fls near Cape 
Comorin, the following animating account is given by the laft- 
mentioned excellent miflionary : " When in my journey I came 
" near to the extremity of the peninfula, I found whole villages 
waiting anxioufly for my coming, to be further inftruclied and 
baptized. They had got acquainted with our native prieft 
*' in that country, and the catechifts and Chriftians, and had 
learned from them the catechifm ; which thofe who could write 
copied, to learn it themfelves at their Icifure. When they heard 
*' of my coming, they broke their idols to pieces, and converted 
their temples into Chriftian Churches, in which I inftrucled and 
baptized them, (in fome about 200, in others about 300 ;) 
" formed them into Chriftian congregations, procured for them 
catechifts and fchoolmafters, and made them choofe, in each 
" place, four elders. Thefc examples awakened the irholc coun- 
" trij ; and when I was about to leave it, the inhabitants of many 

* A particular and interefting account of this admirable niiffionary's labours 
and fuccefs may be feen in Millar's Hiftory of the Propagation of Chrifiianity, 
Vol. II. 

' In teftiniony of their fuccefs, fee Dr. Ker's Report, already referred to. 

Z " more 



170 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



" more villages fent meflages to me, begging of me to remain a 
" couple of months longer in the country, and to do in their vil- 
" lages the good work I had done in thofe of their neighbours h." 

The fuccefs of tlie Danijh miffionaries at Tranquebar appears to 
have been equally great '. And in general it may be obferved, 
that as thofe who are employed on the coaft of Coromandel have 
each feparate congregations and diftrid;s, and travel to the diftance 
of nearly one hundred and fifty miles from the coaft, to vifit other 
bodies of converted Hindus, who are aflifted by native catechifts 
and fchoolmafters, the number of their converts muft be conli- 
derable. 

Of the progrefs of the Baptiji and other Proteftant miffiona- 
ries, the following account is given by Mr. Carey ^ : " The fuc- 
" cefs of the Gofpel has been but flow with us ; at times it has 
*' been more rapid. At and about Tanjore, in a Ihort time, many 
" have turned from idols, under father Swartz's miniftry. I am 

alfo told, that, of late, many have been converted in the more 
" fouthern country, about Palamcotta." The progrefs of the 
Baptift miffionaries, though fo moderately ftated by Mr. Carey, 
has, however, of late been more confiderable. They have already 
baptized upwards of one hundred Hindus, and their tranflations of 
the Scriptures, and the various other means which they are em- 
ploying, may be juftly expeded greatly to increafe their numbers. 

Something yet remains to be faid as to the charaBer of the con- 

^ See the Chriftian Obferver for Auguft, 1803. 

' See their Letter to the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, February 
19, 1799. 

^ See Proceedings of the Baptift Miffion. 

verted 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



171 



verted Hindus, and the nature of their acquaintance with Chrifti- 
anity. Upon this fubjecl it is, alfo, neceflarj to hear the evidence 
of refidents in India. 

Dr. Ker, in his report refpecling the Chriflian Churches on the 
coaft of Malabar, fpeaking of the St. Thome Chrillians, bears this 
honourable teftimony to them : " The character of thefe people is 
" marked by a Jinking fuperiorify over the heathens in every mortal 
" excellence ; and they are remarkable for their veracity and plain 
" dealing.'' 

" With regard to the queftion," fays an author already quoted 
" which has been agitated at home, on the expediency of fending 
" miffionaries, (a queftion highly difgraceful to its oppofers,) it 
" may be fufficient to know, that the native Pi^otejlant converts 
" are, when compared with a like number of other natives, the 
" mojl orderly and rcJpeSahle clajs in the country. That they 
" confift chiefly of the lower or Pariar claj's, is a vulgar error ; 
" and, inftead of being, as is often aflerted, defpifed and con- 
" temptuoufly treated by their fellow natives, they are univerj'ally 
" rejpected : by the latter term, I would be underftood to fay, 
" that, on account of their general good behaviour in focicty, they 
** are efteemed to poll'efs more probity, and better dijpojitions to- 
" wards fecial kindnefs, than any other natives." 

" Our intention," fays the venerable Swartz, " is not to boaft : 
" but this I may fafcly fay, that many of thoj'e peopU who have 
" been injlruded, have left this world with comfort, and irith a 
" luell grounded hope of cvcrlajling life. Tiiat fome of thofe who 



Sec Letter to Dr. Vincent. 
Z 2 



" liavc 



172 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



" have been infl:ru6led and baptized have abufed the benefit of 
inftrudiion, is certain ; but all fincere fervants of God, nay, even 
" the Apoftles, have experienced this grief." 

With regard to the inward religion of the heart among the 
converted heathen," fays Mr. Carey, " I beg leave to mention 
what the late Mr. Swartz faid on his death-bed of the Chriftians 
" at Tanjore ; ' There is in all a good beginning : if another fays, 
' but there is nothing perfed; ; let him examine himfelf, and then 
' judge." " We cannot fpeak," fay the Baptift milTionaries re- 
fpe6ling their converts, of thefe efFecSts in the Chriftians of Hin- 
" duftan, as exifting in fuch a degree as we could ivijh, nor as un- 
accompanied with many faults ; yet, comparing them with ivhat 
" they were, and with what the reji of their countrymen Jiill are, 
" the change is great and manifejl ■"." 

After the preceding brief review of the neceffity and import- 
ance of miffions, and of the adlual fuccefs which has attended the 
feeble efforts hitherto made in this benevolent and interefting 
work, the propriety and expediency of this meafure will fcarcely 
be difputed by any, who are really difpofed to ufe the moft effec- 
tual means for the moral improvement of the natives of Afia. It 
will not, however, be deemed fufficient for the purpofe of the pre- 
fent inquiry, to have pointed out the advantages of miffions, or to 
have fimpiy recommended the adoption of that method of diffuf- 
ing the light of Chriftianity more extenfively throughout Afia. 

If, as it has been already fhewn, it be the duty and the policy 

™ See Proceedings of the Baptift miffion ; and, for other teflinionles to the fuc- 
cefs of modern miffions, fee the Moravian Accounts^ confirmed, with refpe6l to 
South Africa, by Mr. Barrow. 

of 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



173 



of Great Britain to make fome direct and active efforts for pro- 
moting Chriftian knowledge amongft its Oriental fubjedls ; and 
if the labours of miffionaries form one of the moft efficacious 
means of accomplifhing this important objedt ; it follows, that 
fuitable encouragement fliould be afforded bj the government for 
this purpofe. Hitherto, the Proteflant miifionaries have been 
barely tolerated in India ; but after the long courfe of years, dur- 
ing which not only the fafety, but the beneficial tendency of their 
exertions has been experienced, it may reafonably be expected, 
that fomething more of direcft countenance and fupport fhould be 
extended to them. 

The leafl and lowefl meafure of this nature which can be 
adopted would be to liccnfe, under proper regulations, a certain 
number of miffionaries ; to permit them to form ftations, and ufe 
all rational and prudent means for the inftrucftion of the natives ; 
and to give them every degree of encouragement, fliort of an 
oftenfible commifTion to convert them. The propriety and the 
fafety of fo moderate a meafure as this can fcarcely be denied by 
any, who are impartial and competent judges of the fubjecl. 

With refpcA to any further and more direct attempts to propa- 
gate Chriilianity in India, much caution ought unqueflionably to 
be cxercil'ed. For, notwithflanding the habitual apathy and the 
4eil'ening prejudices of the Hindus, it would be prcfuming too 
much to afHrm, that no mcallires, except fuch as partook of ab- 
folute violence, would alarm them. On the contrary, if the na- 
tives of India, in confcquence of any ftriking indications of fuch a 
nature, were to conclude, that it was the fixed intention of the 
Britifh government to convert tlicni to the Chrillian faith, they 
would probably feel coiifidcrablc alarm. The Mohammedans, 

who 



174 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



who are alive to every circumftance which affeds their bigotry, 
would be the firfi; to entertain fuch an apprehenfion, and then 
would zealoully difleminate it amongft the Hindus. 

This is a confideration which tends to produce no fmall degree 
of helitation in recommending more vigorous and oftenfible mea- 
fures for the attainment of the obje6l in queftion. Were it not 
that the open and avowed interference of the Britilh government 
in India fhould be ftudiouflj kept out of fight, and that the minds 
of its native fubjecfts are not yet fufRciently prepared for the exe- 
,cution of fuch a plan, it would be propofed to eftablifli, either at 
Calcutta, or in its vicinity, an Inftitution or College for miffiona- 
ries, throughout India and the Eaflern world. This eftablifhment 
would be, for the purpofe of miffions, what the College of Fort 
William has been reprefented to be, for the tranflation of the 
Scriptures into the Oriental tongues. It would form the centre 
of religious inflruAion ; whence, as from another lona the rays 
of Chriftian light might proceed to illumine and cheer the be- 
nighted regions around it. But the ftate of India is not yet fuffi- 
ciently advanced to warrant the recommendation of this plan. 
Notwithftanding, therefore, the obvious advantages which the 
members of fuch an inftitution would poffefs, as to the acquifition 
both of the Oriental languages, and of local information in gene- 
ral, it is not intended, in the firfl; inftance, to propofe its adop- 
tion ; although it is hoped, that fome eilablilliment of this na- 
ture may eventually be formed. 

We may, however, venture to recommend, that an inflitution of 
a fimilar kind be founded in England, which, without incurring the 

" Journey to the weftern ifles of Scotland, by Dr. Johnfon. 

danger 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



175 



danger of offending the prejudices, or awakening the fears, of the 
Hindus, might combine many of the advantages of the Oriental 
plan, and be rendered almoll equally fubfervient to their civil and 
religious improvement. The objecis, which fucli an eftablifliment 
would embrace, are chiefly the preparation of candidates for the 
office of miflionaries, both by cultivating the Eaftern languages, 
and other qualifications necelTary for duly fuftaining it ; and the 
education of native Afiatic youths, feleded on account of their ta- 
lents and difpofitions, for the purpofe of becoming the future in- 
flruments of inllrucling their Pagan or Mohammedan brethren. 
Refpecling the importance of the point laft mentioned, it was long 
lince obferved by Cerri, Secretary to the College de Propaganda 
Fide, that one native thus educated would probably be more fer- 
viceable than many miflionaries fent from Europe. The Jcfuit 
Acofta" exprefTed the fame opinion, that the natives, when rightly 
educated, are the moft proper for this work. 

The celebrated Roman Catholic cftablifliment, de Propaganda 
Fide, of which fome account has already been given may be 
confidered as affording a precedent, though by no means a model, 
for the formation of the propofed inftitution in England. The 
former was, indeed, lefs intended to difFufe the principles of genuine 
Chriftianity, than to fupport and to extend the do6lrines and ju- 
rifdiclion of the Papal fee. Its objecis were, in confequence, va- 
rious and comphcated, and its funds and clhibHflimcnt ample and 
magnificent. l)Ut the glory of this far-famed infiitution is dc- 
j)arted. The means employed by its agents for the converfion of 
Pagan nations were too fecular and unchrillian to produce any 

" De procuranda Indorum Salute, lib. iv. cap. 8. 379. 
' Hiftoric V^icw prefixed, p. 65. 

folid 



176 



^ MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



folid or permanent effe6ts ; and lince the dominion of the French 
in Italy, by which its funds have been deftroyedP, the miffionaries 
of the Propaganda have been deprelTed, and either feem weary of 
their fruitlefs tafk, or carry it on with a feeblenefs, which gives 
little countenance to the hopes of their employers. 

A more appropriate model for the propofed Englifli inftitution 
may be found in that which was recommended in Holland by the 
learned Walaeus 9, for the education of miffionaries to be em- 
ployed in India ; and which was actually eftabhfhed in the year 
1622, and, during the fhort period of its continuance, fent out 
twelve miffionaries of eminent qualifications for that important 
work. It appears alfo, that the Leyden divine did not confine 
his plan to the European College, but extended it to the forma- 
tion of one of a fimilar kind in India. This, however, for the 
reafons already ftated, is not now propofed ; particularly as the 
objedts of fuch an Oriental inftitution may, for the prefent, be 
fufficiently fecured by means of the clerical eftablifhment in Ben- 
gal. 

The zeal of the Church of Rome in the former of thefe efta- 
bliftiments, and the example of our Proteftant brethren in the lat- 
ter, may be juftly urged to excite the attention, and to kindle the 
ardour, of our own nation, to imitate what was truly laudable in 
their condudt. 

In a difcuffion of this nature, it is obvious, that a few genera! 
P Tennant's Thoughts on India, p. 183. 

1 Antonii Walsei Opera, torn. ii. 437. Neceffitas ac forma Collegli feu Seml- 
narii Indici. 

ideas 



• 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



177 



ideats only can be fuggefted. The plan itfelf, together with the 
particulars refpefting it, mull be left to the confideration of thofe 
to whom it belongs to determine every meafure relating to Britifli 
India, and whofe opportunities of information and judgment ren- 
der them moll competent to decide upon this fubjed;. The ex- 
pence of fuch an inftitution as that which has been propofed could 
not, it is prefumed, be fuch as to excite any alarm in the minds of 
thofe who are moft nearly concerned with the financial affairs of 
the Eaft India Company. The recent Collegiate Ellablifhment at 
Hertford appears to afford peculiar facilities and advantages for 
that which has been juft confidered. Without much additional 
expence or trouble, the means of acquiring the Oriental languages 
might be extended to the fmall number of thofe who would fuc- 
cellively be preparing for the office of miffionaries in the Eaft ; 
and the whole plan might with propriety be confidered as an ap- 
pendage to that important inftitution. 

The objeA of the propofed Eftablifhment being to prepare a 
certain number of perfons to diffufe the knowledge of Chriftianity 
in unenlightened nations, it is highly important, that all thofe who 
may be difpofed to devote their lives to that honourable, but labo- 
rious and felf-denying work, fhould be men of fuitable talents, dif- 
pofitions, and acquirements. Their character is, however, a point 
of fo much confequence, that it may not be unneccffary to dwell 
fomewhat longer upon it. Some oofervations of a fimilar nature 
were made refpecfling that of the different members of the cccle- 
fiaftical Ellablifliment propofed to be given to Britilh India. But 
the character of miffionaries may perhaps be juftly faid to be even 
more important. I'he work in which they are to be engaged is of 
a more arduous and difcouraging nature : the difficulties which 
they have to encounter require both peculiar quahfications, and an 

A a extra- 



178 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



extraordinary meafure of thofe endowments which are more com- 
mon ; and their fuccefs more immediately depends on their per- 
fonal condud;. It has happened, fomewhat ftrangely, that the of- 
fice of a miflionary has been treated in this Proteftant and reh- 
gious country with indifference and difregard, if not, fometimes, 
even with fufpicion and contempt. And this circumftance (may 
it not be owing to a more degenerate caufe !) may, perhaps, ac- 
count for the very rare occurrence of Enghfli names in the annals 
of modern millions. 

The employment of a miffionary is, however, in itfelf one of 
the moll dignified *, and in its confequences one of the moll bene- 
ficial, amongll men ; and calls for qualifications both of the un- 
derllanding and the heart of no ordinary nature. In many of the 
attempts which have of late years been made to diffufe the know- 
ledge of Chrillianity in uncivilized countries, the perfons who 
have been engaged in this arduous enterprife, though pious and 
well-difpofed, have been, for the moll part, deficient in thofe qua- 
lities, which are eiTentially necelTary to form a fuccefsful mif- 
fionary. 

Whoever alpires to the honour of undertaking this important 
office Ihould poflefs good natural abilities, an aptnefs, derived 
partly from previous exercife, to acquire the knowledge of foreign 
languages ; a verfatility of mind fufiicient to enable him to pafs 
with eafe to the acquifition of the habits, difpofitions, and man- 
ners of different nations; and a judgment capable of dired;ing him 
to the moll proper methods of gaining the confidence and arrell- 
ing the attention of the natives ; of feizing favourable opportuni- 

= See the truly apoftolic and eloquent Letter of Archbilhop Wake to the mif- 
fionaries Ziegenbalgh and Grundler, in Dr. Buchanan's Memoir. 

ties 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



179 



ties for prefling his great object, of avoiding unneceliary offences, 
and of adopting the mod fuitable means of inftrudlion. To thefe 
talents he lliould add a competent meafure of learning, and a con- 
iiderable fhare of general knowledge, particularly of that which 
relates to the characters and difpofitions of mankind. Thefe in- 
telleftual endowments, however, though of high importance, 
form, notwithftanding, but one part, and that the moft eafily 
to be obtained, of the character of an accompliflied milfionarv. 
The moral and religious quaVificatioiis , which are even Hill more in- 
difpenfably required in him, remain to be mentioned. Scarcely any 
other employment demands fo many, and thofe of fuch rare and 
difficult attainment. A Chriftian miflionary Ihould, in this refpecft, 
be " ax Tvx/uv eLVYi^y His piety fhould be elevated far above the 
common ftandard, and his tempers and habits fliould be eminently 
holy. In his breafl; the love of God and of man ihould burn with 
a pure and fervent, with a mild and Heady flame. With a deep 
imprelTion of the infinite value of the Gofpel ; with a clear under- 
ftanding of its doctrines and its duties ; with ardent love to his di- 
vine Lord and Mafter, and zeal for the extenfion of his kingdom 
amongft men; with a heart dead to the ambitious purfuits and the 
felf-indulgent pleafures of the world ; with a mind expecting, and 
capable of contending with, the dangers, difficulties, and difcou- 
ragements of his undertaking, irrevocably fixed in his defign, and, 
fervently defirous of promoting the prefent and future welfiire of 
his fellow-creatures, by their converfion to the knowledge of 
Chrifi: — lie fhould fland forth as the ambafl'ador of Heaven ; exhi- 
biting, in his own difpofitions and conduct, a pure and unfullied 
portrait of that divine religion which he profeflbs, and imparting 
to all around him that heavenly light which can alone guide them 
into the way of peace *. 

' Sec note U. 
A a 2 Such, 



180 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



Such, in a conliderable meafure, fhould be the character of every 
one who undertakes the office of a miffionary. For want of men 
thus quahfied, many well-intended but injudicious attempts of 
this nature have either completely or partially failed. But with 
fuch labourers in the great vineyard of the Oriental world, the 
moll fanguine expeAations of fuccefs may, in a due courfe of 
years, and in conjunction witi. other neceflary means, be juftly 
entertained. 

It may, perhaps, be objedled, that men of this exalted charac- 
ter have been but rarely feen in thefe later ages of the Church, 
and would now be rarely obtained. Deficient, however, as the 
Church at large, and particularly our own, has lately been in 
this relpe6l, men of this elevated fpirit have appeared ; and 
their example, aided by the various concurring circumliances 
of the prefent era, may, poffibly, excite the emulation of fome 
to follow them in their bright career. The fuccefsful labours 
of Elliott and of Brainerd, amongft the uncivilized tribes of 
North American Indians ; of the Moravian miffionaries on the 
frozen fhores of Greenland, and the dreary coaft of Labrador " ; 
.of Swartz and Gericke, amidfl the fervours of the fouthern pro- 
vinces of India ; are fufficient to refcue the two lafl; centuries of 
the Chriftian Church from the charge of entire indifference and 
fupinenefs in the great work of propagating the faith of Chrift 
amongft heathen nations ; to relieve it from all fear of the inter- 
ruption of the watchful care and the gracious cooperation of its 
exalted Head ; and to animate the exertions and invigorate the 

» Two of thefe venerable miflionarles have reached their ninety- fecond year, and 
two others have paffed their eighty-feventh, having fpent their whole lives from 
an early age in the fervice of their divine Mafter. See the laft Report of the Mif- 
fions of the United Brethren, 

hopes 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



181 



hopes of all his faithful fervants, in promoting his kingdom 
throughout the world. The zeal which has of late years been 
evinced in Great Britain by Chriftians of every denomination, in 
purfuing this great object, may, alfo, excite the jurteft expectations 
of the prevalence of fuch a fpirit amongft us, as may induce many, 
duly quahfied both by their intellectual and moral attainments, to 
undertake the arduous employment of miffionaries in the Ealtern 
world*. 

The peculiar duties of a miflionary, and the various methods 
which he fhould adopt in the faithful difcharge of his facred office, 
fall not within the immediate province of this inquiry)'. His firlt 
great objedl:, as foon as his knowledge of the native languages, and 
other favourable circumftances, fliould afford him fuitable oppor- 
tunities, ought evidently to be to make known to his unenlight- 
ened brethren around him, with fimplicity and earnellnefs, and in 
a manner adapted to their capacities, the pure and unfophifticated 
dodlrines and precepts of the Gofpel. 

One important part, however, of his duty, which we would 

* The deficiency of Englifli niifTionaries may, perhaps, be partly attributed to 
the want of publicity rcfpefting the fubje6l in this country. Hence the cha- 
rafters of men of Chriftian piety and zeal are early formed to habits not altoge- 
ther calculated to fit them for an office, which in after life they might feel de- 
firous of undertaking. But in the event of a more extenfive field for miflionary 
labours being opened in the Eaft, it may be hoped, that, by the notoriety which 
fuch a circumftance would occafion, young men of fuitable talents and difpofitions 
might be direded to look, forward to that eniploynicnt as the great bufniefs of 
their lives, and to prepare themfclves accordingly. 

» Thefe points are excellently difcuflfed and illuftrated in two charges to mif- 
fionaries, the one by Dr. GlaflTe, in the Proceedings of the Society for promoting 
Chriftian Knowledge, for the year J 793 ; the other by Mr. Venn, as before re- 
^■'"rred to. 

par- 



1&2 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



particularly notice and recommend, is the printing and dijiribu- 
tion of the Scriptures, and of Jhort tra€ts on the nature and evi- 
dences of Chriftianity, and on other moral and religious fuhjefts, 
in Hinduflan, and in other parts of the Oriental world, as opportu- 
nities might be afforded. The utility of this plan, fo far as relates 
to the difperfion of the Scriptures, has, as we have already fiiated, 
received the fandlion of the opinion of Sir William Jones ; and 
the advantage of the whole of it is confirmed by the experience 
of thofe who have hitherto been concerned in millions. " Doubt- 
" lefs," fays an eminent Proteftant miflionary in Bengal^, " various 
" means contribute towards the propagation of Chriftianity ; but 

of late, the printing and difperjing of the New Tefiament, andr 
^' fmall traSls, feem to have the greateft effe6l." " The print- 

ing prefs," obferve his aflbciates, " may be viewed in the fame 
" light as the fchool ; but its immediate a6lion is more extenlive ; 
" it being the means of fending Bibles, parts of Bibles, and fmall 

trails, into all parts of Bengal, and fome other parts of Hin- 
" duflian. Good effects have followed the difperfion of thefe trails; 
" and we have good encouragement to hope, that God may ftilt 

continue to make them ufeful ; not to mention the remote effect 
" which muff arife from the prefs, in gradually exciting a Ipirit of 
" reading, and confequently of inquiry In every account 
which has been publiftied of the proceedings of the miffion efta- 
blifhed at Karafs, on the frontiers of the Ruffian empire, it has alfo 
appeared, that confiderable effects have been produced by the dif- 
perfion of a fhort Arabic tra6l, written by Mr. Brunton, for the 
purpofe of expofing the impoflure of Mohammedifm. It has ex- 
cited much difcuffion amongft the people in general, and has 

^ Mr. Carey, Letter to Mr. Morris. 

* Letter of the miffionaries to the Society in England. 

been 

\ 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



183 



been particularly iifeful in abating the prejudices and convincing 
the minds even of fome of the ^Mohammedan priefts. 

The inJlruBion of children forms another material branch of 
the duty of every miffionary. But this is a point which deferves 
to be more fully, and feparately confidered. 



SECT. 



« 



184 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



SECT. ly. 

SCHOOLS. 



ARGUMENT. 

Importance of early iri/lruSl'ion — Te/iimonies in favour of it — Propofal refpeB'ing the 
efiahlifhment of Schools in India — General interference of the Briti/h government. 



X H E importance of early education in promoting the civiliza- 
tion and the moral improvement of nations, is a truth which has 
been fo frequently demonftrated, and is now fo generally acknow- 
ledged, that it is by no means neceflary to adduce many argu- 
ments in its fupport. Ignorance, fuperftition, vice, and mifery, 
have ever been found clofely connected with each other, and form 
a train of evils, which can only be effectually removed by the dif- 
fution of moral and religious knowledge. Such is, alfo, the nature 
of man, that the fitteft feafon for its communication is obvioufly 
that of youth. In early life, the human mind is, for the moft 
part, free from the influence both of prejudice and of habit, and is 
open to receive any impreffions, and to be moulded to any form, 
which thofe who are entrutled with the care of its inftrudion 
may defire. 

The education of children has, accordingly, been an objedl, to 
which thofe who have been folicitous to influence the opinions 

and 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



185 



and principles of mankind, have generally diredled their at- 
tention. 

At a very early period of the Chriftian Church, Conlhintine the 
Great, amongft other means which he adopted for the depreffion 
of Paganifm, and the diffufion of Chriftianity, erected many 
fchools throughout the empire ; a meafure which the Apoftate 
Julian, for the purpofe of countera6ting the efforts of his illuf- 
trious predeceffor, did not fail to imitate, on fucceeding to the im- 
perial throne ^. 

The extraordinary fuccefs of Mohammedifm throughout Africa 
and the Eaft is not merely to be attributed either to the force of 
arms, or to the licentious nature of that impofture. ^ The Mo- 
hammedans are indefatigable in their endeavours to make profe- 
lytes. For this purpofe they ufe perfualion, as well as force. 
The great inftrument, by which they both maintain and promote 
their religion, is their induftry in educating children^, brought 
from every country in their neighbourhood, or to \^•hich they 
have accefs. There is fcarcely a Mohammedan country, in w hich 
there are not feminaries for educating the children of other na- 
tions, moft of whom they either ranfom from flavery, or fubjed: 
to it. The Turkifli empire would probably have been long fince 
crufhed under its own weight, had it not been for this zeal of the 
Mohammedans in dillcminating their principles. It is obferved, 
alfo, by Dr. Robertfon that " their number in China has been 

• Nazianz. Orat. i. in Juliaiium. 

^ See Thoughts concerning a Midion to Aftracan, by the Rev. H. Brunton. 
« See particularly, in proof of this, Park's Travels. ,. 

* Difquifition concerning India, note 40. 

B b " con- 



186 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



" confiderably increafed by a pradice common among them, of 
" buying children in years of famine, whom they educate in the 
" Mohammedan religion." 

A late writer ^ on the fubjed; of India gives it as his opinion, as 
well as that of the bell informed perfons, that the moft probable 
means of propagating Chriftianity in Hinduftan is by the inftruc- 
tion of the native youth. He aflerts, that the natives have no 
averfion to commit their children to the tuition of Europeans, but 
are rather ambitious of their acquiring their accomplifhments, 
from interefted motives of advancement in our fervice ; that many 
natives actually fend their children to day-fchools, for the purpofe 
of learning the Engiifti language, and even purchafe elementary 
books for private application. He confiders, that, by affording 
gratuitous inftru6lion, multitudes of Hindu children in Calcutta 
might be taught to read and write, and an opportunity might 
thus be given for putting elementary books of morality into their 
hands, as introductory to Chriftianity f. " Our error," obferves 
the author of the Report to the government of Madras refpedt- 
ing the native Chriftians on the coaft of Malabar, " has been in 
** hot having long ago eftablifhed free fchools throughout every 
" part of this country, by which the children of the natives 

might have learned our language, and become acquainted with 
" o*ur morality." 

e i)r. Tennant. He apprehends, that, as there would always be great difficulty 
in procuring fober and diligent Europeans to inftru6t the native children, this 
might be remedied by employing fome of the children of Europeans by natives, 
who are excluded from civil or military employment in our fervice, and aban- 
doned by their Hindu progenitors, on account of their Chriftian education. This 
is a hint, which, with proper cautions, deferves ferious attention. 

*■ Indian Recreations^ Vol, I. fe6t. 33. 

The 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



187 



The utility of this meafure is in no point of view more ap- 
parent, than as it refpecls the gradual diffujion of the Englijh lan- 
guage throughout India, The civihzation of the natives, and the 
confirmation of the Britifli dominion, could fcarcelj by any other 
means be more fpeedily and efFedually promoted. 

Suppofing, however, what appears to be very improbable, from 
the prefent favourable difpofition of the natives, that but few of 
them would permit their children to be educated in the propofed 
manner ; the plan which is fo fuccefsfully followed by the Mo- 
hammedans, and which, from purer motives, has been adopted by 
fome of the higher refidents in Britifh India, of procuring native 
children during times of famine, or other feafons of dillrefs, and 
by various other practicable means, might be advantageoufly re- 
forted to. The children thus obtained might be fupported at very 
little expence, and educated in the principles of Chriftianity. 

The importance of fchools for native children has been felt in 
every modern undertaking to propagate the Chriftian religion among 
the heathen. They have been conftantly attached to the llations 
of the Danifh and other Proteftant miflionaries in India ; and are 
confidered as a nurfery for the Church, and one of the moft ufe- 
ful branches of their millions s. 

In Ceylon, previous to the eftablifliment of the Britifli autho- 
rity, the Dutch had been particularly zealous in the formation 
of fchools in every dillricl. Thefe arc ftill maintained and en- 
larged, and are in a very vigorous and flourilliing condition. The 

8 The fentiments of t'ne DaiuHi niiffionaries may be fecn in tlic (ccoiid volume 
of Millar's Hiftory, p. 

nh 2 children 



188 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



children in thefe fchools are taught both to read and write 
the native and the Englifh languages, and are diligently in- 
llrudled in the Chriflian religion. At the miffion ftation of 
Karafs, the leading ohjeB of thofe who fuperintend it is to ran- 
fom young Haves, for the purpofe of educating them as Chrif- 
tians. 

Tlie fpeculative opinions and the pradtical experience of all 
who have direAed their attention to this fubje6t feem thus to 
concur in ftrenuoufly recommending the eftablifhment of fchools, 
wherever it is intended to dilTeminate Chriftian knowledge ; and 
although it would be more advantageous, that they ftiould be 
formed and dired:ed by fome appropriate inftitution, and that they 
fliould be fubjed; to the fuperintendence of miliionaries and refi- 
dent Clergy, they are of fuch pi^imary importance, that if even no 
other meafure Jhould he eventually tahen towards the improve- 
ment of the natives, the ejiahlijhment of free fchools fliould on no 
contideration be neglected. The trial of their utility ought at 
leafl to be made at fome of the principal Englifh fettlements in 
India ; and if, as cannot be doubted, it fhould prove favourable to 
the adoption of the propofed plan, fchools might be gradually ex- 
tended throughout our empire, as circumftances and opportunities 
fhould diredt. 

The eftablithment of fchools being a meafure which mull ne- 
ceflarily be undertaken by the Britith government, we may be 
allowed in connexion wnth this fubjedt to offer a few obfervations, 
in addition to thofe which have been already made, on the pro- 
priety of its general interference in promoting the propagation 
of Chriftianity. 



Protedion 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



189 



Proteclion from perfecution on account of religious opinions is 
one of the chief encouragements to the inveltigation of truth in 
any country ; and the mild and tolerating fpirit of our Oriental 
government, contrafted with that which characterized the Portu- 
guefe and the Mohammedan dominion, is, no doubt, one of the 
caufes which has contributed to the increafe and liability of our 
empire. But this toleration of native fuperlHtions may degene- 
rate into culpable indifference to our own purer faith ; and has, 
in faft, been cenfured on that ground. There is no doubt, that 
the appearance of any difpofition on the part of government to 
compel its fubjeds to adopt the Chriilian faith would be op- 
pofed ; and under a difavowal of every fpecies of compultion, 
whether direA or indirect, the attempt to convert them mull be 
made with much caution and difcretion. That the government 
mufi: lend its cordial afTilliance in this important work, is indif- 
penfable to its fuccefs ; but that affiltance may be fubltantially af- 
forded, without any difplay to create alarm, or furnilli a pretence 
for exciting it. Thus, whilft every degree of compulfion fliould 
be carefully avoided, the laudable example of a late Governor 
General'', in fuppreiling one inhuman practice of the Hindus, rc- 
fpc6ting the deltruction of infants, may evidently be followed with 
advantage ; and in this manner, many other cruel and immoral 
parts of the native fuperdition may be effectually reitrained and 
aboliflied. 

It is remarkable, however, that, notvvithltanding the general 
protedtion which is now afforded by the Englifli government to 
the various religious fe&s exifting in India, and although the Hin- 
du who is converted to Chriltianity, and is, in confequcnce, ex- 

The Marquis Wcllcflcy. 

pel led 



MEANS OF PROPAGATING 



pelled from his Cafte, is liable to no perfonal violence, or to any 
lofs of his rights as a fubje6l ; yet, from the want of precedent in 
the north of India, of a community of native Chriftians enjoying 
political confequence, as in the fouth, fuch is the ignorance of the 
people, that they are faid to doubt w^hether their civil liberties 
are equally fecure to them, under the denomination of Chrijiian, 
as under that of Hindu or Mufelman ; and not to underftand, 
that we have yet recognized, in our code of native law, any 
other fe6l than that of Hindu and Mufelman. It is, therefore, 
of great importance, that this point fhould be clearly made 
known to the natives. Meafures, alfo, fhould undoubtedly be ad- 
opted for the peculiar protection ^ and employment of thofe, who, 
by their converfion to the Chrillian religion, have incurred the dif- 
pleafure of their relatives, or facrificed their w^orldly interefts ; and 
it is worthy of the attention of government, how far it would 
be right to extend the fame fupport to the deferving part of the 
Pariars, or outcafls^ During the government of the ifland of 
Ceylon by the Dutch, particular attention was paid to the en- 
couragement of Chriftianity in this manner : no native was ad- 
mitted to any office under it, without profeffing himfelf a mem- 
ber of the reformed religion ; and although this was, probably, 
produdlive of much hypocrily, the fpirit which didlated fuch a 
regulation might be judicioufly imitated by our own E^ftern go- 
vernment. 

The vigorous adoption of meafures fimilar to thofe which have 
' See Dr. Buchanan's Memoir, note F. 

^ See fome obfervations on this fubjeft in the Edinburgh Review, No. 8. 

1 This has alfo been fuggefted by the intelligent writer referred to in the pre- 
ceding note. 

now 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



191 



now been propofed could fcarcelj fail of eventually producing 
the moll important confequences, refpe(5ling the civil and moral 
improvement of Alia. Thefe, however, remain to be confidered 
in the fucceeding chapter. 



ARGUMENT. 



Ohfervations on the effeBs of the propagation of Chriflianity 
throughout the world — Prohability that they ivould he equally he- 
nefcial in Afia — Suppofed confequences of the adoption of the 
various means before recommended — Probable effed of the dif- 
perfion of the Scriptures in Afia — and of other means of promot- 
ing Chriflian knowledge — Progrefs of Chriftianity — Bleffings re- 
fulting to individual converts — Advantages to Oriental nations^ 
refpeSiing their manufactures and commerce — Literature — Civil 
and judicial inflitutions — Civilizing arts and manners — Advan- 
tages to Great Britain — Stability and permanence of its Oriental 
empire — increafed commercial advantages — Its fame and reputa- 
tion from the promotion of Chriftianity in Afia — Accomplijhment 
of prophecies — General recapitulation of motives to this worh — • 
Conclufion. 



CHAP. nr. 

The Conjequences of tranjlatiiig the Scriptures into the Oriental lan- 
guages, and of promoting Chri/iian knowledge in AJia. 



It has frequently been objedled to fuggeflions relpeding the 
religious improvement of our Indian fubjed;s, and, indeed, of the 
natives of Afia at large, that their own fuperftitions are adapted to 
their peculiar genius and character, and that they would derive no 
material advantages from any change in their fentiments and ha- 
bits. This objection may be traced, partly to an unfounded idea 
of the purity and excellence of the Brahminical faith, or to an 
opinion, that all religions are equally acceptable in the fight of 
God; and partly to an imperfedl knowledge, or a flight and fuper- 
ficial confideration, of the nature and blelTings of Chrillianity. 

On the fubjecl of the true character and efFedls of the Hindu 
fuperllition, fufficient, it is prcfumed, has been already faid. A 
fytlcm more fatally calculated to contraift the underllandings, de- 
bafe the feelings, and dellroy the happinefs of mankind, could 
Icarcely be devifed. The elevated piety of the Brahmin, and the 
mild virtues of the humbler Hindu, have been too long celebrated 
by the hiftorian and the poet, in defcriptions of equal fidelity. It 
is time that the veil fliould be withdrawn, and that their true fca- 

c c turcs 



194 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



tures fliould be univerfally known and acknowledged. A faith- 
ful pi(5lure of their errors and enormities has, indeed, been ex- 
hibited in the writings of various authors, more efpecially, lince 
the etiablifhment of the Atiatic Society ; and every fucceeding 
year has afforded frelli proofs of the truth of their reprefenta- 
tions. 

Under the influence of their ancient fuperftitions, the natives of 
Hinduftan, and of other Oriental regions, mull ever remain fuch 
as they have been for ages ; Ikilful and ingenious in the various 
manufadlures, or in the cultivation of the different commodities, 
for which they have fo long been celebrated ; patient, or rather 
fupine, under the evils of defpotic dominion ; and perhaps, as far 
as the Hindus are concerned, more fenlible of the advantages 
which they derive from the mild and equitable adminiftration of 
the Britilli government. But, as to all thofe endowments and at- 
tainments which diflinguifh and adorn human nature, which ele- 
vate it to its true dignity, and promote its real happinefs, they are 
and muft continue to be ftrangers, fo long as they remain the 
flaves of their native fuperftitions. It is unnecefTary to make any 
material diftinftion, with refpeft to their moral effedls, between 
the religion of Brahma or of Budh, and that of the Arabian Im- 
poftor, W'hich for the moft part divide between them the great 
continent of Alia. The errors of Mohammedifm, we have already 
feen, are almofl equally inimical to the knowledge, the virtue, and 
the happinefs of its deluded difciples. 

The only efFedlual remedy for the various evils to which the 
Eafiern world has long been fubjed; is the difFufion of Chriftian 
knowledge. Chriflianity, by introducing to its unenlightened na- 
tives juft and elevated views of the fupreme Being, and of moral 

and 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



195 



and religious truth ; by prefenting to them the pureft and moft 
valuable obje6ls of purfuit, the favour of God, and eternal felicity ; 
hy offering the mofi; certain means of obtaining them ; by point- 
ing out that courfe of life which moft diredlly tends to promote 
prefent happinefs ; and by affording the mofi: powerful motives of 
action, and the moll awful fanclions of obedience ; would gradu- 
ally remove that load of ignorance and fuperftition under which 
they have fo long laboured, and open to them the fure profpedl of 
obtaining the moll important and permanent bleffings. 

In fupport of the benign and civilizing influence of the Chriflian 
religion, we need not, however, refort to theoretical reprefenta- 
tions, or fpeculative reafonings. The evidence is before us in the 
long-extended feries of eighteen hundred years ^, during which it 
has, either more or lefs extenlively, been the fource of public and 
of private happinefs, in every country in which it has flouriflied. 
In oppofition to the long-eflablilhed fuperflitions, and the invete- 
rate prejudices of the Jewiih and the Gentile world, aided by the 
temporal authority of their princes and rulers, the firfl preachers 
of Chriflianity fuccefsfully planted it throughout the world. Ido- 
latry, error, vice, and mifery, fled in proportion to the prevalence 
of this divine religion ; and nations, which had long been de- 
graded and cnflaved by moral ignorance and corruption, were 
refcued from their bondage, and fprang into hberty, and light, 
" and life." 

We have already traced the progrefs of this heavenly faith from 
its firfl promulgation to the prefent time. We have obferved the 
facred leaven, originally infufed into the univerfal mafs in the 



■ See Brief Iliftoric View prefixed, 
c c 2 



chofcn 



igS CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



chofen province of Judsea, gradually extending itfelf till its influ- 
ence was felt throughout the globe. We have feen this extenfive 
diffulion of Chriftianity at firft rapidly advancing under the mira- 
culous guidance and direction of its divine Author, and afterwards 
more llowly proceeding under the ordinary blefling of Heaven. 
We have remarked the fuccefs which has attended the adoption 
of the means which have been recommended in the courfe of the 
prefent inquiry. The Scriptures ivere generally tranjlated into 
the vernacular languages of the countries intended to be evan- 
gelized ^. In many inftances where a confiderable body of Chrif- 
tians were fettled amidft an uninflrudted and uncivilized people, 
the wife and liberal policy of the parent ftates granted them a 
fuitable ejiahlijhment of their faith. The zealous labours of pious 
and able mijfionaries were called forth to roufe the attention and 
to inform the minds of the unconverted natives ; and ftrenuous, 
though, it mufl be confelTed, occalionally imprudent and unwar- 
rantable, efforts were made by the fecular governments to abo- 
lifti the idolatry and fuperllitions of their barbarous fubjedts, and 
to encourage the profeffion of the Chriftian faith. Meafures fuch 
as thefe have never failed, in the courfe of years, and to a greater 
or lefs degree, to diffufe the knowledge of Chriftianity in any un- 
enlightened country, and to carry in their train a rich aflemblage of 
national and individual bleffings. Why then fhould it be doubted, 
that limilar effe6ls will follow the adoption of limilar meafures in 
the cafe now under confideration ? Why iliould it be thought in- 
credible, that Hinduftan, and, at length, other Afiatic countries, 
fhould receive from Britifh piety and zeal the benefits which have 
hitherto invariably flowed from the introduction of pure and ge- 
nuine Chrifl;ianity ; that the confequences, which have refulted 

^ See Brief Hiftoric View prefixed, paffim. 

from 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



197 



from it in the Welt, lliould be experienced in the Eaft ? It has 
appeared, that India and other Oriental countries have already felt 
the beneficial influence of our holy religion ; and that the prefent 
circumftances of their natives, and of the Britifli government, are 
peculiarly favourable to a wife and well-digefted attempt to pro- 
mote its revival and extenfion amongft them. 

Suppofing, therefore, the great and important work of tranflat- 
ing the Scriptures into the Oriental tongues, that primary and 
fundamental ftep towards the fucccfsful propagation of Chrilli- 
anity in any country, to be purfued and completed, under the 
patronage of the College of Fort William, aided by fuch means 
as have been before fuggefled — Suppofing, alfo, an ecclefiafii- 
cal Eftablifiiment to be granted to Britifli India, and an infii- 
tution for the exprefs purpofe of qualifying and employing mif- 
fionaries to be formed — Suppofing, further, the cordial yet pru- 
dent cooperation of the fupreme government to be exerted in 
the fuppreflion of the cruel and immoral practices of the na- 
tives, and the protection and encouragement of thofe who fhould 
embrace the Chrillian faith — What, under thefe circumfi:ances, 
may rationally be expedled to be the conj'cqucnces of fuch endea- 
vours to promote Chrifiian knowledge in Afia ? 

It is not to be fuppofed, that any fudden or extenfive revolution 
in the opinions and habits of the natives would take place, neither 
is this to be defired. The moll prompt and vigorous adoption of 
the meafurcs before recommended mull be expected to be very 
long in producing any great and vifible efi^'cl. The means pro- 
pofed to be ufed are of a rational and moral nature ; the people 
amongfl whom they are to be cxercifcd are not only debafed 
and fettered in the mofl degrading manner, but are naturally in- 

difpofcd 



198 CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



difpofed to exertion, and funk in the moft deplorable mental apa- 
thy, lime muft, therefore, be allowed for the operation of the 
meafures which may be employed for their improvement. We 
can, indeed, look but a very httle way into the connexions and 
confequences of things : but w^e are warranted, by the foundetl 
dedufflions of reafon, and the moft unvarying teftimony of paft ex- 
perience, to predict, that Chriftianity, wherever it is planted, will 
have its genuine efFe6t on fome few ; that a change in the moral 
fentiments and habits, and fubfequently in the civil and focial 
condition of the natives of India, and other Afiatic regions, will 
be gradually efFeded ; that the complicated evils, by which they 
have been long opprefled, will b« progreffively letTened ; and that 
bleffings will, by degrees, be diffufed amongft them, to which they 
have hitherto been ftrangers. 

Notwithftanding the publicity which w^ould be the unavoid- 
able confequence of the adoption of fome of the propofed mea- 
fures for propagating Chriftian knowledge in Alia, they would, 
probably, at firft, be deemed inadequate by the natives of Hin- 
duftan to produce the intended effeSi, and conlidered rather as 
idle than dangerous to their fuperftitions. It is important, indeed, 
that this impreffion fliould be general amongtt them ; and that 
the idea of the interference of government, for thepurpofe of con- 
verting them, fliould, as we have before obferved, as much as 
polTible, be counterafted. This would tend to allay any appre- 
henlions which might otherwife be excited in their minds by the 
apparent difpotitions which were making around them ; and 
would leave the means to be purfued for their improvement to 
their natural and undifturbed operation. 

I. 1 . The difperflon of the Scriptures in the native languages, to- 
wards 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



wards w hich fucli confiderable progrefs has been already made, as it 
would, probably, precede every other meafure, and might be exe- 
cuted without much obfersation, would be likely, in the fird in- 
ftance, to be the rnoft beneficial, and to prepare the minds of the 
natives for Itill further attempts to inilrucl them. Suppofing the 
Scriptures fliould, as it has been recommended, be accompanied 
by fliort and perfpicuous tracls on the evidences and nature of the 
revelation which they contain, it cannot be reafonably doubted, 
that a confiderable fpirit of inquiry would be raifed amongtl the 
higher clalTes of the Hindus, which would be confiantly fpreading 
and producing increafed effects upon their minds. The additional 
intcreft with which every circumfiance relative to their European 
rulers has, of late years, been regarded by the natives, and parti- 
cularly the eftablifliment and fubfequent proceedings of the Col- 
lege of Fort William, though it has flopped fliort of exciting any 
degree of fufpicion or jealoufy which might prove prejudicial to 
the Britifli government, has, notwithltanding, tended to awaken 
the well-educated amongfl them from that indiflerence and torpor 
as to moral and religious fubjecls, by which they have been fo 
long characlerized. This mufl necefl'arily prove highly favourable 
to the promotion of the great objedl in queflion. The errors and 
enormities both of the Hindu fuperflition, and of the INIoham- 
medan impofture, when fully, yet temperately, expofed to the view 
of their deluded votaries, would, furcly, appear in fomewhat of 
their true colours, and affecl them by fome indiflinci difcovcry of 
their guilt and abfurdit3\ Chriflianity, on the other hand, requires 
only to be prefented in her genuine form, to fecure, even from 
prejudiced and fupcrficial obfervers, the tribute of their admiration 
of her fuperior excellence and value. The contrafl, which \\ ould 
be exhibited by the difperfion of the Scriptures, between the reli- 
gion of Chrifl, and that of Mohammed, of Brahma, or of Jhidli, 

would. 



200 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



would, therefore, be too llriking to efcape the notice of fome of 
the more acute and reflecting of our Aliatic fubjeCls, and would 
lead them firft to doubt the truth of their own faith, and then to 
entertain a favourable opinion refpedling ours. 

It is not probable, that the Hindu, accufi:omed to the grofs re- 
prefentations of his native gods, or even the Mohammedan theift, 
fliould at once be capable of rightly appreciating, or even compre- 
hending, the fublime yet rational views which the Chriftian reve- 
lation affords of the character of the fupreme Being, of the refined 
and exalted nature of the duties which it requires, or of the re- 
wards which it propofes. His attention, if he were a follower of 
Brahma, and of an inferior Cafte, would be firft excited by argu- 
ments better adapted to the level of his underftanding. He would 
probably be ftruck with that divine fpirit of freedom and impar- 
tiality, which, breaking the flavifli fetters of the Cafte, declares 
the whole human race to be equally the objects of the com- 
paffion and favour of the Almighty ; and with the general air of 
mildnefs and benevolence, which fo pecuUarly characterizes our 
holy religion. Inftead of the gloomy and forbidding forms, in 
which the Deity is fometimes arrayed by the fuperftition of Brah- 
ma, he would behold a merciful and gracious Being, the indulgent 
Father of his creatures, their conftant Preferver and unwearied 
Benefactor, infinitely defirous of their trueft happinefs, and in- 
terpofing, in a ftupendous manner, to promote it. Inftead of 
the vain and endlefs round of cruel, painful, or immoral rites, by 
which the Hindu worfliippers are taught to appeafe the wrath, 
and to conciliate the favour, of their numerous gods, the native, 
whofe mind was difjpofed to liften to the inftitutes of the Chriftian 
religion, would find himfelf at once relieved from that grievous 
and unprofitable burden, by the cheering promife of forgivenefs 

and 



CHRISTLINITY IN ASIA. 



201 



and acceptance through the mediation of the Son of God. He 
would learn to look up to that Almighty Being, whom he had hi- 
therto either regarded with dread and averfion, or to whom he 
was altogether a ftranger, with filial confidence ; to rely on his 
mercy, to truft his care, to fear his difpleafure, and to hope in his 
goodnefs. He would perceive in the precepts of the Gofpel, a 
plain and pradlicable rule of condu6l ; difcover in its promifes, an 
inexhauftible fource of wifdom, (Irength, and comfort; and feel, 
in its clear and awful declarations of a future righteous judgment, 
the confequences of which, both as to happinefs and mifery, are 
eternal, motives of preeminent force and authority, to confirm and 
invigorate his faith, and to animate and fecure his obedience. 

It is not conceived, that the effecl of the difperfion of the Bible 
in Hindufiian would be exactly fuch as has been juft defcribed in 
every cafe, in which a favourable impreffion might be made on 
the mind of a native by that important meafure. The confe- 
quences of it would, no doubt, be infinitely varied ; and with re- 
fpe6l to the difciples of the iNIohammedan faith would, in every 
infi:ance, materially differ. But Ibme convi6lions, of the nature 
now defcribed, would probably be the refult of fuch a dilfemina- 
tion of Scriptural principles. 

We have here anticipated the effecEt only of the difperfion of the 
Scriptures in Afia. But this, though one of the moll important, is 
Hill but one of feveral other meafures, which have been recom- 
mended for the purpofe of promoting Chrifiianity in the Eafi. 
An Epifcopal Efi:ablifiiment of our national faith, to give to that 
which is at prefent but little better than " an airy nothing, a lo- 
" cal halntatioii and a name T the foundation of an inllitution 
in England, for the preparation and appointment of mifiiona- 

D d ries, 



102 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



ries, whether Europeans or natives ; the eflablifhment of free 
fchools in every diftrid, for the education of the native children ; 
and the printing and diftribution of fliort moral and religious 
tra(^ts ; have feverallj been the fubjeds of confideration, with a 
view to the accomplifhment of the fame great defign. Many cir- 
cumftances concur to render it probable, that fome of the mea- 
fures which have been juft enumerated will, at no diftant pe- 
riod, be adopted and executed. To calculate, therefore, on the 
influence of fuch a plan, is far from being a viflonary employ- 
ment. 

If an Eftablilhment of our national religion be eventually given 
to Britifti India, its influence on the higher orders of the natives, 
who are conned:ed in any manner with the government, who have 
much intercourfe with the Britifh inhabitants, or who even relide 
in the neighbourhood of fuch a vilible profeflion of the Chriftian 
faith, mufi: neceflarily be confiderable, and continually increafing. 
In addition to the various circumllances which have of late years 
direded the attention of the well-informed amongft the Hindus 
to the nature of our national religion, it may be very proba- 
bly conjedlured, that they could not view fuch a flep as the en- 
largement of its ertablifliment in India, with entire indifference 
and unconcern. And to awaken their curiofity, to imprefs them 
with a ilronger idea of the fenfe we ourfelves entertain of the value 
and importance of Chriftianity, by increaling the number of its 
authorized minifl:ers, is precifely that effeS:, which it is defirable 
to produce in their minds. 

But if, in addition to this preliminary and fundamental mea- 
fure, able and zealous mifllonaries are diftributed throughout In- 
dia, and elfewhere in Afia, as opportunities may be affbrded, to 

in- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



203 



increafe the number of thofe who fliall, in a peculiar manner, 
embody and exemplify the Chriftian faith, to be the inftruments 
of expofing, mildly and rationally, the fuperftitions and errors of 
the natives, and of awakening their regard to our religion, and to 
be the interpreters of thofe facred Scriptures, which may be 
difperfed amongft them ; it cannot be too much to expect, that at 
leaft fome few, in every place, may be found, to Hllen to the 
voice of truth, to receive the meflage of the Gofpel, and to turn 
from dumb idols, or delufive impofture, " to ferve the living and 
" true God." 

The inftitution of free fchools, for the education of the native 
children, is a meafure, which would be leaft difficult in its exe- 
cution, and mod certain in its efFecft. The expediency and the 
facility of executing this part of the general plan have been al- 
ready confidered ; and no hazard can be incurred by afl'erting, 
that, in the courfe of a few years, and in proportion to the ex- 
tent to which fuch means are adopted, a fucceffion of natives 
would probably be produced, who were either prepared to re- 
linquiHi, or had actually abandoned, the prejudices and fuperlli- 
tions of their forefathers, and who would thus be difpofed to per- 
form the duties, and enjoy the privileges, of ChrilVian fubjedls. 

It is almoft unnccelTary to add, after what has been before ob- 
fervcd upon that point, that the encouragement which it is obvi- 
oufly both the duty and the policy of the Britifli government to 
afford to native Chriltians, would materiallv tend to increafe the 
particular influence of every diredt attempt to promote Chrifti- 
anity in Afia. 



The converfion even of a confidcrable number of Hindus, by 

D d 2 any 



204 CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



any of the meafures which have been recommended, would not 
be produ(5live of any immediate and ftriking effect on the millions 
who would yet remain unenlightened. Yet if " one only of a 

family, or two of a city," fhould, in procefs of time, be thus 
affected, fuch is the benign nature of our holy religion, and fuch 
the difpofitions which it generates in its true difciples, that the 
falutary influence, even of fo fmall a body, would by degrees 
be felt. And if, as there is every reafon to expedl, fuch changes 
fhould not be confined to any one particular diftrid:, but fhould 
extend to every part of India, and to other Afiatic coun- 
tries, the fum of the general effect would be by no means to be 
defpifed. The facred records of our faith would thus obtain a 
cordial reception in the Eaft. In one province and kingdom, and 
in another, fome would be found to teftify their truth and value ; 
a wider breach would be made in the empire of the Prince of 
darknefs, and the firft faint prefages of the rifing of " the Sun of 
" Righteoufnefs" would be clearly difcerned. The force of truth 
is irrefiftible, and its influence confl:ant and diffufive. This day 

of fmall things" would, doubtlefs, fpeedily advance. This cloud, 
if we may be allowed to change the metaphor, though apparently 
diminutive and contemptible, would gradually increafe, and, at 
length, pour down its kindly fhowers on the morally parched and 
barren regions of Afia, till " the wildernefs and the folitary place 
" would be glad for them, and the defert would rejoice and blof- 

fom as the rofe." 

In whatever degree the adoption of thefe various means for 
promoting Chriftianity may be productive of convi6lion in the 
minds of the Aflatic natives, in the fame proportion the influence 
of facred truth would effed: an important change in their fenti- 
ments, habits, and conduft, which could not fail to ameliorate 

and 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



205 



and improve their civil and focial condition. With refpecl to the 
Hindus in particular, the advantageous confequences would be great. 
The mere bodily exercifes enjoined by their fuperftitions M'ould give 
way to that reafonable fervice, which " hath the proinife both of 
" this life, and of that which is to come." The helplefs innocence 
of infancy would no longer, as hitherto, be expofed by its deluded 
and unnatural parent to mifery and deftruclion, but would be re- 
ceived and cheriflied as the gift of God. The relu6lant widow, no 
longer urged by her dread of the mercilefs and rapacious Brahmin, 
would ceafe to otfer her painful facrifice, and be preferved to her fa- 
mily and her country. The infirmities of age, and the extremities 
of difeafe and death, inftead of being, as heretofore, aggravated and 
accelerated by the unfeeling officioufnefs of the votaries of fupcr- 
l^ition, would be alleviated by the afFed;ionate cares, and foothed by 
the fympathetic tendernefs, of furrounding relatives and friends ; 
while the fears of the departing fpirit would be allayed, and its 
hopes invigorated and fuftained, by the promifes of our holy faith. 
The wretched Sudcr, and the devoted Pariar, in contradidion to 
the barbarous inftitutions of their country, would be recognized 
as men and as brethren ; and admitted, equally with the rcll of 
mankind, to fhare in the prefent and future bleflings of that di- 
vine religion, whofe peculiar glory it has ever been " to proclaim 
" liberty to the captive," and " to bring good tidings to the poor." 

To the natives of Afia in general, confequences no Icfs beneficial 
would follow. The enlarged views, which Chrillianity would 
unfold to thofe whofe condition is now fo deplorable, of their na- 
ture and deliiny, of their relation to the fupreme Being, and of 
their various duties in the world, would be like a new creation, 
or as life from the dead. They would begin to think of thcm- 
felves as rational and immortal creatures, and to live " fibi carlo- 

res. 



206 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



" res." They would feel their relative worth and importance in 
the fcale of created being, and find, in the principles of the Chrif- 
tian faith, ample provifion for the cultivation of all their intellec- 
tual and moral powers, for the exercife of all the charities of focial 
and domeftic life, and for the encouragement and completion of 
all thofe alpiring and unlimited expe6lations, which are natural to 
the human mind, and which Chriftianity alone can explain and 
fatisfy. Thus gradually emancipated from the flavery of Brah- 
minical fuperftition and Mohammedan bigotry, and free to im- 
prove and enjoy the rich and varied bleffings of their native 
foil, they would purfue, with renewed vigour and adlivity, the 
peaceful occupations of art, manufacture, and commerce ; they 
would cultivate the civilized opinions and manners of European 
nations ; enlarge their intercourfe, and cement their union with 
Great Britain, either as fubjecls or as friends ; and ultimately 
reftore to the Eaftern world a jufter claim to that diflind:ion in 
civilization, religion, and happinefs, which it once preeminently 
enjoyed. 

2. The bleffings to be derived by individuals from the difFufion 
of Chriftian knowledge in Alia, would be conliderably augmented 
by the advantages, which would refult to provinces and kingdoms 
at large by its general prevalence. The inhabitants of Alia have, 
for the moft part, during many ages, been the fubjecfts both of 
civil and religious inftitutions, which have checked their progrefs 
in civilization, and deprived them of various benefits, which are 
enjoyed, under different circumflances, by nations lefs highly fa- 
voured by nature. Notwithftanding the rich commodities which 
are already the produce of the Eafl, the commerce of which has 
tended fo materially to promote the wealth and power of the Wefi, 
the former poflelTes capacities of further mercantile aggrandizement, 

of 



CHRISTLINITY IN ASIA. 207 

of which the increafed induftry of the natives, and the general 
amendment of their character, by the introduction of a purer fyf- 
tem of morals and religion, may enable them to avail themfelves. 
Chriftianity is, in the highell degree, friendly to every fpecies of 
exertion and improvement, ^\ henever, therefore, the principles 
of our holy faith fliall be widely difFufed in Alia, the liberal and 
enlightened views on every fubjecl connected with the policy and 
the welfare of nations, which invariably follow them, cannot 
fail to augment the riches and the tlrength of every nation, into 
which they may be introduced. There is, indeed, no country in 
the world, which, if the climate be confidered, pollciles within it- 
felf a more abundant fliare of the comforts and conveniences of 
life than India. Confequently, it Hands lefs than moll others in 
need of the reciprocal benefits of commerce. The fy llem, how- 
ever, of agriculture, and even the various manufactures, in which 
the natives of India, and of other Eaftern countries, have hitherto 
been deemed unrivalled, may admit of important improvements ; 
and a very numerous allcmblage of the arts, ufages, and cuftoms 
of civilized life, which have long contributed to the comfort and 
advantage of the inhabitants of Europe, would, fo far as they 
could be accommodated to the natural circumllanccs of Afiatics, 
be added to the more valuable bleffings which they would derive 
from the beneficent influence of Chrifiianit}'. 

Nor mull the introduction of the fcience and literature of the 
Welt be, in this connexion, forgotten. Tlie w ifdom of the Ealt, 
which, in the earlier ages of the vs orld, was ib jultly celebrated, 
has long fince palled away ; and although the refcarches of late 
years have unlocked the hidden trcafures of Sanfcrit learning, and 
revived the lludy of letters in our Oriental empire, the ditilifion of 
the fcientific difcoverics, and the philolbphical and literary labours 

of 



208 CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



of European fcholars, which would naturally accompany the pro- 
motion of Chriftian knowledge, and the extenfion of the Englilh 
language, would form a moft valuable and interefting addition to 
the various other advantageous confequences, refulting from the 
operation of that meafure to the natives of the Eaftern world ^. 

It may feem enthuliallic to exprefs any fanguine hope of the 
fpeedy prevalence of Chriftianity, in any Oriental country, to fo 
great an extent, as to require a change in their civil conftitutions, 
or forms of judicial adminiftration. Yet long before the great 
body of the people, or the government of any Afiatic nation, 
fliould become profefledly Chriftian, by the operation of the mea- 
fures before propofed, fome material alterations of this nature 
would be required, fuited to their improved condition, and calcu- 
lated to enforce the obfervance, and to fecure the benign influence 
of Chriftian maxims, principles, and regulations. There is, in 
lliort, no department, either of public or of private hfe, in which 
the beneficial confequences of diffbfing Chriftian knowledge would 
not be felt in Afia, according to its peculiar fituation and circum- 
ftances, as they are amongft the nations of Europe. 

II. But if fuch are the advantages which the Eaftern world 
would, probably, derive from the gradual fuccefs of this important 
work, thofe which would refult to Great Britain, as the author 
and promoter of them, would be fcarcely inferior in value. We 
have already difcufled the importance of difteminating the princi- 
ples of Chriftianity in Afia, with reference to the permanence of 
our Oriental empire ; nor can this fubjeA be too ferioufly or at- 

* The extenfive attainments of Tuffuffil Hoflein Khan afford a remarkable fpeci- 
nien of the capacities of the Hindus for European learning. See account of him 
by Mr. Anderfon. 

tentively 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



209 



tentively confidered. Without adverting to the arguments which 
were then adduced in fupport of this meafure, on the ground of 
policy ^, it is now only neceflary to ftate what would be the 
probable confequences of its execution and fuccefs : and on this 
point a few obfervations Avill be fufRcient. 

If the natives of Hinduftan, in addition to the circumftance of 
being a conquered people, are at this time under the abfolute 
control, partly of an infatuated and degrading fuperftition, and 
partly of an intolerant and malignant impofture, and are therefore 
deftitute of the llrongeft ties which unite fubjecls and their rulers 
in the bonds of loyalty and affection ; and are expofed to the per- 
petual operation of their own contracted views and ungoverned 
paflions, and to the influence of external artifice and intrigue — 
and if, notwithflanding the acknowledged excellence of the Bri- 
tifh government, the unbroken feries of its fucceflbs and viAories, 
the apparent fubmilTion of its native enemies, and the expulfion of 
its foreign foes, and the confequent appearance of Itrength and 
confolidation which our Oriental empire now exhibits, it Hill con- 
tinues liable to the poflible, and not very improbable, operation 
of the unfavourable caufes juft fpecified — can there be a quellion, 
with any refleAing mind, whether the interefts of Great Britain 
would not be eflentially promoted by the difFufion of Chritlianity 
throughout India ? whether, in fa6t, this is not a meafure of fuch 
paramount importance, that the adoption of it can alone enfure 
the (lability and permanence of its authority in that country ? 

We have already frequently obferv ed in the courfe of this inquiry 
the natural tendency of the Chriftian religion, to promote the wel- 



See page iii — 114. 
E c 



fare 



210 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



fare and profperity both of the people and their governors, and its 
adlual efFe(fts in the hiftory of its progrefs in different nations. 
The mild and equal fyftem of government, which it is intended to 
produce throughout the world, and the peaceful and loyal fub- 
miflion to the ruling powers, which it ftudioufly inculcates, toge- 
ther with the uniform experience of paft ages and of the prefent, 
place this fubjed; beyond all reafonable doubt. Let us, therefore, 
fuppofe, that, by the operation of the meafures which have been 
before Hated, a confiderable number of the natives of India fhould 
be converted to the Chriftian faith ; the beneficial confequences of 
fuch a change to the Britiih government would be vifible and 
important. A body of people would be gradually formed, and 
daily increafing, whofe fentiments and habits, as to points of the 
mofl interefting and affecting nature, luould coincide with thofe of 
the government itfelf, and of its European fuhjeBs — who, by their 
converfion to Chriftianity, would be neceiTarily obliged to look up 
to them as to their prefervers from the unenlightened or bigoted 
part of their native brethren — whofe hopes and fears would center 
in them — to whom the fecurity of the Britifli authority would, 
equally with ourfelves, be the great objed: of their delires and en- 
deavours — who would feel a deep fenfe of their obligations to thofe 
who had called them to the ineflimable knowledge of the Golpel — 
and who would, for all thefe and for various other weighty rea- 
fons, be cordially attached to the government, to which they 
mufl owe their continued fafety and happinefs ; anxious to defeat 
the fecret machinations of its enemies, ready, upon every emer- 
gency, to fupport it at the hazard of their property and their lives,, 
and prepared even to die in its defence 

' " The newly converted Chriftlans on the coaft of Malabar are the chief fup- 
" port of the Dutch Eaft India Company at Cochin, and are always ready to take 
up arms in their defence." See Bartolomeo's Voyage, p. 207. 

Nor 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



211 



Nor is the Itability and permanence of our Oriental empire the 
only object which, as far as human wifdom and forefight can ex- 
tend, would be efFeAually fecured by the promotion of Chrifti- 
anity in Afia. The advantages, which Great Britain already derives 
from its commercial intercourfe with the Eaft, would, probably, 
be much augmented. The introduction of many new articles of 
produce and manufadlure, which would be the refult of the pro- 
greffive improvement of its inhabitants, whilft they tended to in- 
creafe the means of their own fubfiftence, would enlarge the re- 
fources of Great Britain ; their acquaintance with the arts and man- 
ners of more civilized life would at the fame time occafion an addi- 
tional demand for European articles, and confequently further con- 
tribute to the wealth and power of our own country. This argument 
ftrongiy applies not only to Britifii India, but to the peninfula be- 
yond the Ganges, to the Afiatic iflands, and to the empire of China, 
our intercourfe with which would be materially facilitated and en- 
larged by the fuccefsful propagation of Chriftianity. To purfue it 
further would, however, lead into a wide field of conjecture and dif- 
cuflion. It can only therefore be Itated among the probable confe- 
quences of the profccution of that great and important meafure. 

One other point remains to be mentioned, as to the confe- 
quences of our difFufion of Chriftian knowledge in Afia, which is, 
alfo, highly interefiiing to Great Britain. This relates to its cha- 
rader and reputation amongfl; the great empires of the world. The 
eyes of all other nations have long been directed to our conduct 
towards our Indian pofieflions. They have watched the progrefs 
of our power, and marked the manner in which it has been em- 
ployed. They have, it is true, when compared with the exagge- 
rated accounts which have been lludioufly circulated throughout 
Europe, witnefl^ed but little of tyranny or opprcfiion in the cxerr 

F- e 2 tion 



212 CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



tion of our territorial influence, but have feen it, for the moft 
part, exercifed for the civil protection and vi^elfare of our Oriental 
fubje6ls. Yet they have obferved no direct and ftrenuous eifbrts 
for their moral and religious improvement. But, whatever may 
have been the wrongs which India has fuftained at our hands, to 
impart to her the bleflings of Christianity, would be to make 
more than ample compenfation to her for them all ; and would 
tend, in the moft decifive and fatisfadory manner, to prove to the 
nations of the world, that we are, in fome meafure, worthy of the 
extenlive dominion which the divine Providence has there aliigned 
to us. But if they were even altogether indifferent to our Oriental 
eondu6l, we ought not ourfelves to be infenlible to what becomes 
our charadler, and forms fo effential a part of our duty as a Chrif- 
tian nation. 

Whilft, then, the ufurping government of one mighty weftern 
empire is, in a greater or lefs degree, fpreading defolation and ter- 
ror as far as its deftrudlive arms and influence have hitherto been 
extended, and is extinguifliing, to the utmofl; of its power, in every 
fubjugated country, the traces of genuine freedom, virtue, and 
happinefs ; what fairer opportunity of efied:ually eclipflng the 
falfe and unenviable fplendour of our haughty rival can be pre- 
fented to us, than that of diffufing throughout India the bleflings 
of civilization and religion, and of eventually connecting the prof- 
perity and glory of the Britifli iflands with the welfare and happi- 
nefs of the whole Oriental world ? 

That fuch would be the confequences of our difl^uflon of Chrif- 
tian knowledge in Afia, may be confidently predidted from the re- 
vealed declarations, and from the uniform proceedings towards na- 
tions, of the great moral Governor of the univerfe. Both unite in 

con- 



CHRISTIANITY IN ASIA. 



213 



convincing us, that thus to cooperate with Him in his gracious 
defigns for the improvement and happinefs of his creatures, is the 
fureft way to promote the fecurity and the real greatnefs of any 
people. 

But we may extend our views yet further. It is painful to one 
who is zealous for the honour of that divine religion, which Hea- 
ven has in mercy vouchfafed to mankind, to behold the contracted 
fphere in which it has hitherto exerted its benign and falutary in- 
fluence. Nearly the whole of the vaft continents of Alia and 
Africa, together ^^ ith immenfe regions in that of America, have 
for ages continued either involved in the grofs darknefs and mifery 
of Paganifm, or fubjecl to the delufive guidance of Mohammedan 
error and impolture. This gloomy and lamentable fcene will not, 
however, always remain. The unfulfilled prophecies of facred 
Scripture open to the contemplative mind a magnificent and 
boundlefs profped of the triumphs of Chriftianity in fome future 
age. The eternal and irrevcrfible decree has gone forth, that " the 
" kingdoms of this world fliall," at length, " become the kingdoms 
" of the Lord and of his Chrift." And, though its execution has 
for a long time appeared to linger, we cannot doubt, that, in the 
end, it will furely be accompliflied. The pillars of the Brahmini- 
cal fuperrtition have evidently begun to totter, and the crefccnt of 
the Mohammedan power has long fincc been in its wane. 

By what extraordinary means and operations it may pleafe the 
Almighty Ruler of the world to accelerate their downfall, and to 
prepare the nations now fubje6t to their malignant fvvay, for the 
mild and beneficent dominion of their rightful Lord, cannot be 
fafely conjectured. To difchargc a neceflary duty, which is mort 
clofely connedled with the accompliflmicnt of both thcfc objcdls, 

cannot. 



2^14 



CONSEQUENCES OF PROPAGATING 



cannot, however, but be a fervice acceptable to the great Author 
of the prophetic declarations of the ultimate triumphs of Chrif- 
ftianitj throughout the world. 

Every motive, therefore, which can affect or animate us as a 
Chriftian nation, unequalled in knowledge, wealth, power, and 
general profperity, urges us to the important work of propagating 
our holy faith in Afia. The providence of God, in the various 
circum (lances of our connexion with India, feems to point out, 
by no uncertain indications, the fupreme defign in granting to thefe 
iflands fo extenfive an Oriental empire. Our obligations as a nation 
profeffing Chriftianity — the moral ftate of our Indian fubje6ls — the 
opportunity which we enjoy of ameliorating their condition — the 
means which we poffefs of tranflating the divine records of our reli- 
gion into the Oriental tongues, and of promoting Chriftian know- 
ledge in Afia — and the various great and beneficial confequences, 
which would refult from the execution of that defign, both to the 
inhabitants of the Eafi;ern world, and to our own country — all unite 
in proclaiming, with a voice of mingled authority, admonition, 
and encouragement, This is the way" of folemn and indifpenfa- 
ble duty, of enlarged philanthropy and charity, of unqueftionable 
policy, and of certain and unrivalled glory. 

To one imploring and warning voice, which, to the dithonour 
of our country, had been too long heard in vain, the legiflature of 
Great Britain has, at length, afforded an attentive and propitious 
ear. The wrongs and the miferies of Africa, fo far as we were 
the occafion of them, have been effedlually pitied and redreffed. 
The guilty fhare which we had fo long taken in the flavery of her 
haplefs fons has been, at length, indignantly, and, with a few ex- 
ceptions, unanimoufly, renounced : and with it one of the moft 

formidable 



CHRISTLINITY IN ASIA. 



215 



formidable obflacles, which has hitherto impeded the civiHzation 
and improvement of that ill-fated continent, has thus, at this late 
but welcome period, been removed, we truft, for ever. 

Having difcharged this debt of juftice and compaffion to one 
great quarter of the globe, let us not forget that which we ftill 
owe to another, whofe claims to our attention and regard are in- 
difputably ftronger, and with whofe interefts and welfare our own 
are far more intimately connccled. The attempt to improve the 
condition of Afia may, indct^i, partially fail; but the beneficial ef- 
fects which muft, in any cafe, refult from it, would fully juftify 
and reward it. Suppofing, however, what is barely pofiible, that 
fuch an attempt fhould totally fail, let it be remembered, that even 
then England \^■ould poflefs a pure and elevated fource of fatisfac- 
tion, in reflecling that she has done her duty, to which flie 
cannot otherwife be entitled. Should fhe, on the contrary, refufe 
to obey the call which the Providence of God is now fo evidently 
directing to her, the time may come, v/hen in the difafFed:ion of 
her Indian fubjeAs, and the difmcmbcrment of her Oriental em- 
pire, flie may difcern the punilliment of her ncgledl. But the op- 
portunity of retrieving her error may then be loll for ever. 

Let Britifli India, then, and, through its medium, let the widely 
extended continent of Afia at large, receive from our highlj-^-fa- 
voured country, our literature, our civil, focial, and domcfiic blell- 
ings, our morals, and our religion. IjeX a generous and enlightened 
effort to impart them, at lead, be fairly made. And, while we 
are confidently afiured, that with " fuch a facrifice God w ill be 
** well pleafcd," let us look to Him for that aufpicious approbation 
and favour, which can alone enfure its complete and permanent 
fuccefs. 



NOTES. 



Note A. Page i . 

The Author deemed it unnecefTary, in fo brief a Iketch of the Progrefs 
of Chriftianity, as that to which he is confined, to dwell more largely on 
the moral and religious ftate of the Gentile world. Thofe who are con- 
verfant with the clallical writers of antiquity muft be fully aware, both of 
the general corruption of manners, which prevailed even in the moft en- 
lightened and civilized of the heathen nations, and of the erroneous, unfa- 
tisfadtory, and contradi6lory fentiments of the Grecian and Roman philofo- 
phers, on the principal fubjedls of morality and religion. For a full dif- 
cuffion of all thefe points, the Author would refer to the elaborate work of 
Dr. Leland, on the Advantages and Neceflity of the Chriftian Revelation, 
and to Mofheim's Eccl. Ilift. vol. i. chap. i. 

Note B. Page 7. 

" Et horum tamen opera," obferves the learned Grotius, " dogma illud 
*' intra annos triginta, aut circiter, non tantum per omnes Romani imperii 
" partes, led ad Parthos quoque et Indos pervenit." De Verit. §.21. 

The following eloquent defcription of the rapid progrefs of Chriftianity, 
notwithftanding the various difficulties which oppofed it, by the mafterly 
hand of Erafmus, is too interefting to be omitted. 

" Sola Veritas Evangclica intra paucos annos cun(5las totius orbis regioncs 
" occupavit, pcrfuafit, ac vicit : Graecos ac barbaros, dodtos ct indodVos, 
" plebeios ac reges ad fe pcrtrahens. Tarn efficax crat hujus veritatis pliar- 

F f " macum. 



218 



NOTES. 



" macum, ut tot hominum millia, reliftis patriis legibus, reli6la majorum 
" religione, relidlis voluptatibus ac vitiis, quibus ab incunabilis affueverant, 
" novam ac peregrinam dodlrinam ampledlerentur, et ex diverlis Unguis, 
" diverlis inftitutis, in humilem quandam philofophiam confentirent ; prse- 
*' fertim quum nulla astas magis fuerit inftru6la, vel eruditionis facundiae- 
que praefidiis, vel monarcharum potentia ; quumque mundus omnibus 
fuis praelidiis pugnaret adverfus inermem Evangelii veritatem, tamen effi- 
" cere non potuit, quin ea primum occupata Graecia, Neronis urbem et au- 
" lam invaderet, moxque per omnes Romani imperii provincias fefe fparge- 
ret ufque ad Gades et Indos, ufque ad Afros et Scythas, 

" Et penitus toto dlvifos orbe Britannos. 

" Hae gentes. Unguis, legibus, ritibus, moribus, inftitutis, diis, religione, 
" forma, plurimum inter fe diflidebant. Mox ea tanta difcordia fadli con- 
" cordes eandem cantionem canere coeperunt, Jefum Chriftum unicum or- 
" bis Dominum Servatorem, laudibus vehentes." D. Eraf. Rot. in Para- 
phrali in Evangelium Lucae. 

Noie C. Page ii. 

The note here referred to has by miftake been inferted at the bottom of 
page II, and immediately follows the reference. 

Note D. Page ig. 

The Author has exprefled hirafelf doubtfully on the fubje6l of the con- 
tinuance of miraculous powers in the fourth century. For, although he 
can by no means aflent to the opinions of thofe who maintain, that at this 
period miracles had entirely ceafed, he has no helitation in faying, that after 
the fecond century, but efpecially after the aera of Conftantine, the accounts 
of miracles, which are tranfiuitted to us by ecclefiaftical hiftorians and 
others, muft be received with caution, and the evidence, which they adduce 
in their fupport, be examined with care. Some of thefe accounts may be 
fafely admitted to be true, while many others muft be entirely reje6led. 

In 



NOTES. 



219 



In general, it may be obferved, that the circumftances attending thefe rela- 
tions, and the nature of the objects in fupport of which miracles are ftated 
to have been wrought, are fufficient to dire6l a difcerning and impartial 
reader in his judgment refpedling them. This is the medium which is pur- 
fued by Mofheim, and by the learned Author of the Remarks on Eccle- 
" liaftical Hillory," neither of whom will be fufpedled of any tendency to 
credulity or enthuliafm. 

Note E. Pajse 20. 

It is probable, however, either that the Chriftians on the coaft of Mala- 
bar, or fome others in the peninfula, were converted at an earlier period 
than is here afligned ; as ecclefiaftical hiftory reports, that St. Bartholomew 
and Pantaenus preached there, and that at the Council of Nice, in the year 
325, a Bifhop from India was amongll the number which compofed that 
memorable fynod. 

Note F. Page 44. 

There are ftill, however, conliderable remains of Chriftianity in the 
Turkifh dominions, both in Europe and Afia. In the former, it is calcu- 
lated that two thirds of the inhabitants are Chriftians ; and in Conftantino- 
ple itfelf there are above twenty Chriftian Churches, and above thirty in 
Thefialonica. Philadelphia, now called Ala Shahir, has no fewer than 
twelve. The whole ifland of Chio is governed by Chriftians, and fome 
iflands of the Archipelago are inhabited by Chriftians only. 

Note G. Page 50. 

A curious account of thefe corrupt practices of the Jefuits is contained 
in a letter of Mr, Maigrot, quoted by Millar in his Hiftory of the Propa- 
gation of Chriftianity, from a work entitled, " Popery againft Chriftianity," 
under the fignature of Parthenopacus Ilcreticus. 



F f 2 



Notd 



1Q.0 



NOTES. 



Note H. Page 72. 

The conftitution and courfe of nature, together with the final caufes 
which are difcernible in all its parts, afford fatisfa6lory proofs of the provi- 
dence of God. It has accordingly been generally acknowledged in all ages 
and nations throughout the world. The philofophers of Greece and Rome, 
notwithftanding the fcepticifm which fome of them indulged, for the moft 
part profeffed and taught this important truth, and the fages of the Eaftern 
world exprefsly aflerted it. 

There were, indeed, fome ancient feAs, of whom the Epicureans were the 
moft celebrated, and certain individual philofophers belonging to others, 
who, although they admitted the being of a God, rejedled the dodlrine of 
his providence, as inconfiftent with the divine tranquilHty and happinefs. 
There were others, among whom may be numbered the great mafter of the 
Peripatetic fchool, who acknowledged fome kind of providence, but re- 
ftri6led it either to the heavens, to the exclufion of the affairs of this lower 
world, or to a general, in oppofition to a particular, fuperintendence of its 
concerns. The moft confiderable philofophers, however, of antiquity, and, 
amongft others, Socrates, the wifeft of them all, maintained the univerfal 
extent, and the particular as well as the general control, of the divine Provi- 
dence. The fentiments of this extraordinary man, as they are recorded by 
Xenophon, are particularly clear and ftriking : Kal yxp £7rtjw£Aa!rS-«» S-s^s ivo- 

jat^£v dv^^u'iituv ov^ ov rpo'Tov ol uroWo) vo[ji.li^iS(nv. Outoi [x\v yoi^ o'lovrut Tijf Bt^s roi 
fAiv eU'evjui, Toi S\ o'J>t uSiVXi' 'LtiiufXTYis S\ isavrix. f/Xv YiyiTro S'sns n^lvxi roc t£ Xcyoi/.£vix. 
not) •Jt^a.rlof/.ivx, x«i aiyn (isKl\j6[x,ivoc, KCLVca.yz ^\ 'xx^nvx^ xai (rY\[j^cciv?iv tois oiv^^ci- 

Ttois Tir£f» Tww dv^^Mviiuv icocvTuv. Mem. i. I. 19. fee alfo hb. iv, cap. 3. The 
following expreffions, alfo, of the Roman Orator are remarkable : Nihil 

Deo praeftantius, ab eo igitur regi neceffe eft." " Dico igitur providen- 
*' tia Deorum mundum et omnes mundi partes et initio conftitutas effe, et 
" omni tempore adminiftrari." De Nat. Deor. hb. ii. cap. 2. See alfo de 
.Leg. cap. ii. n. 15. " Pietate ac religione, atque hac una fapientia^ quod 
*' Deorum immorlaVmm nunitne omnia regi guhernarique perfpex'mus, omnes 
" gentes nationefqice Juperavimusr De Arufp. Refponf. n. 19. After all, it 
muft be admitted^ that both the philofophical and popular opinions of anti- 

■ ^ ■ quity 



NOTES. 



221 



quity concerning thefe important fubjedls were to the laft degree unfettled, 
and very erroneous. See Warburton's Divine Legation, and Leland's va- 
luable work already quoted. 

The fentiments of fome of the Oriental philofophers will appear from the 
following pafTages " The Vedantis," fays Sir William Jones, " being unable 
" to form a diftindl idea of brute matter independent of mind, or to con- 
" ceive that the work of fupreme goodnefs was left a moment to itfelf, ima- 
" gine that the Deity is ever prefent to his ivork." Diflertation on the Gods 
of Greece, Italy, and India. 

In the Baghvat-Geeta, p. 84, the fupreme Being is ftyled " the Creator 
" of all things, and from whom all things proceed." 

The following is, alfo, a defcription of the fupreme Being in one of the 
facred books of the Hindus: " As God is immaterial, he is above all con- 
" ception ; as he is invilible, he can have no form ; but from what we be- 
" hold of his works we may conclude, that he is eternal, omnipotent, know- 

ing all things, and prefent every where." Dow's DifTert. p. xl. See Ap- 
pendix to Dr. Robertfon's Difquilition concerning India, p. 323. 

It fhould be added, that the learned difciples of Buddha do not acknow- 
ledge in their writings a fupreme Being prefiding over and Author of the 
univerfe. They aflert, however, a firft caufc, under the vague denomina- 
tion of Nature. See Diflertation on Singhala, or Ceylon, by Captain Ma- 
hony, Afiatic Refearches, vol. vii. 

Note I. Page 73. 

" Independently," obferves Sir William Jones, " of our intereft in corro- 
" borating the multiplied evidences of revealed religion, we could fcarcely 
" gratify our minds with a more ufeful and rational entertainment, than the 
" contemplation of the wonderful revolutions in kingdoms and ftates which 
*' have happened within little more than four thoufand years : revolutions 
" almojl as fully demonjlrative of an all-ruling Providence, as the ftrucfture 
" of the unrverfe, and the final caufes which are difcernible in its whole ex- 
" tent, and even in its minutcft parts." Afiatic Refearches, vol iv. Difc. 
on Afiatic Iliftory. 

The 



222 



NOTES. 



The learned and eloquent Bifhop of Meaux, in his admirable Difcourfe 
on Univerfal Hiftory, thus expreffes the leading delign of the divine Provi- 
dence in the government of the world. 

" Plus vous vous accoutumerez a fuivre les grandes chofes, et a les rap- 
" peller a leurs principes, plus vous ferez en admiration de ipes confeils de la 
" Providence. — Dieu ne declare pas tous les jours fes volontes par fes pro- 
" phetes touchant les rois et les monarchies qu'il eleve, ou qu'il detruit. 
" Mais I'ayant fait tant de fois dans ces grands empires dont nous venons de 
" parler, il nous montre par ces exemples fameux ce qu'il fait dans tous les 
" autres ; et il apprend aux rois ces deux verites fondamentales \ premiere- 
" ment, que c ejt lui qui forme les royaumes, pour les donner a qui il lui plait ; 

et fecondement, qiiilfait les fair e fervir, dans le tems, et dans Vordre qu il a 

refolu, aux dejjeins quil a fur fon peuple.''^ Boffuet, Difc. fur I'Hifl:. Univ. 
part. iii. chap. i. 

Note K. Page 103. 

" No one," fays a writer already quoted, " who has been in India, will be 
" a very ftrenuous advocate, I prefume, for upholding a religion which an- 
" nually occafions bloodfhed, exceffive tumult, and murder. Let any one 
" recoUeA what annually pafles between the immenfe multitudes of the 
" right hand and left hand Caftes, as they are called. Such outrages are ex- 
^' hibited every year in Madras itfelf, in fpite of military drawn out to op- 
" pofe it. What ftate of fociety, let me afk, is this ? Can it be called ci- 
" vilization ? or does it partake of the private war of the barbarous and feu- 
" dal ages ? What are we to think of human facrifices ? A few years fince, 
" the Brahmins of a certain Pagoda, in the Tanjore country, murdered for 
" facrifice a boy of eleven years of age : having killed him, they took out a 
" particular part near the vertebras of the back, and offered it to the idol. 
" The affair was fully examined and proved, and the punifhment decreed 

was banifhment beyond the Coloroons. The exiles accordingly went be- 
*' yond that river, and returned in two or three days !" Letter ta Dr. Vin- 
cent, ut fupra. 



Note 



NOTES. 



223 



Note L. P^ge 1 04. 

This calculation of Mr. Chambers has been thought by competent judges 
to be fomewhat exaggerated. Dr. Buchanan's Memoir gives the number 
annually facrificed within a definite circuit round Calcutta. But it may be 
doubted, whether an area of double the extent in any other part of the coun- 
try would give any thing like his calculation. 

Note M. Page 107. 

The religion of Buddha is probably m.ore ancient than that of Brahma, 
and contradicts fome of its eflTential points, particularly concerning the cre- 
ation, and the immortality of the foul. Buddha is faid to have taken for his 
principles, vvifdom, juftice, and benevolence; from which emanate ten com- 
mandments, diftributed under the three heads of thought, word, and deed, 
which are held by his followers as the true and only rule of their condudt. 
For a more particular account of the religion of Buddha, fee two diflerta- 
tions on this fubjeCl by Captain Mahony and Mr. Joinville, in the feventh 
volume of the Afiatic Refearches. 

Note N. Page 1 26. 

It is true, that Mohammed expreffed himfelf ftrongly in praife of the 
purfuit of learning^; that the Koran has been tranflated into feveral lan- 
guages ; and that the perufal of it by the Mufelmans is not only permitted, 
but encouraged. Yet as all difcuflions and controverfies refpedling its truth 
or divinity are forbidden, and as the ftudy of it is not confidered as a facred 
duty by the great body of the people, the exprefiion in the text is not per- 
haps too ftrong. 

* Lord Teignmouth's Life of Sir William Jones, Appendix B. 



Note 



224 



NOTES. 



Note O. Page izj. 

This celebrated verfion has, on the one hand, been too highly and exclu- 
fively extolled, while, on the other, it has been too indifcriminately cen- 
fured. Some ftriking obfervations occur refpe61:ing it in the late Bifliop 
Horlley's learned tranflation of the Prophet Hofea, p. i66, 175, 8, 9. But 
fee Brett's Differtation on the ancient Verlions of the Bible, for a more full 
and fatisfacftory account of it. 

Note P. Page 138. 

The imperfeftions of this verfion of the four Gofpels induced the late 
William Chambers, Efq. an admirable Perfian fcholar, to undertake a new 
tranflation from the original Greek. But he had fcarcely finiflied twenty 
chapters of St. Matthew's Gofpel, before the Eaftern world was deprived, by 
his death, of the benefit of his labours. The lofs has, however, fince been 
repaired. 

Note Q. Page 138. 
{The reference to this note ought to have been at page 139, at the words '''printed off.") 

The tranflator is Johannes Laffar, a native of China, and Profefix)r of the 
Chinefe language, afliflied by a Chinefe Munfhi. Being an Armenian Chrif- 
tian, he tranflates from the Armenian Bible, faid to be one of the mofl: accurate 
verfions of the Scriptures extant. The tranflation is in the Mandarine dia- 
with marginal readings as to ambiguous expreffions, in the familiar dia- 
lers. For a more complete account of this great and interefting work, fee 
Dr. Buchanan's Memoir, note M. 

Note R. Page 146. 

" Every proof flieet," fays Mr. Carej^, is carefully revifed by us all, 
compared with the Greek, fubjcdled to the opinion and animadverfions of 
" feveral Pundits, and part of it tranflated by a native into a collateral lan- 

" guage, 



NOTES. 



225 



" guage, of which we can form fome idea, before it be printed off." Bapr. 
MifT. Acc. xiii. 449. 

Note S. Page 147. 

The Britifh and Foreign Bible Society has, fince the compofition of this 
DilTertation. with a hberahty which reflefts on it the higheft honour, tranf- 
mitted two fums of one thoufand pounds to Calcutta, in aid of the tranfla- 
tion of the Scriptures into the Oriental languages. It has alfo refolved to 
fupply the miffion at Karafs with a fount of Arabic types, for the purpofe of 
printing the New Teftament in the Turkifh language, together with paper 
fufficient for printing five thoufand copies of this tranflation. This laudable 
Society has further in contemplation an edition of the Scriptures in the Cal- 
muc and Arabic dialedls. 

Note T. Page 153. 

It has been the univerfal complaint of all the writers who have confidered 
the fubjedl of the propagation of Chriflianity amongft the heathen, that the 
irreligious and immoral lives of European Chriftians have formed a moll 
ferious hindrance to this important work. It is particularly infifled on by 
Mr. Stephenfon, Chaplain to the Eafl India Company at Fort St. George 
early in the lafl century, in his admirable letter to the Society for promoting 
Chriflian Knowledge. See Millar's Hift. of the Propagation of Chriflianity, 
vol. ii. p. 565. This circumflance might, indeed, have been ftatcd in a 
former part of the Diflertation, among the obflacles to the introduction of 
Chriflianity into India. 

Note U. Page 179. 

The character of a milTionary has been fo admirably drawn by the prc- 
fent Bifhop of Worceftcr, in his Sermon quoted in page 73, that the Author 
cannot refrain from enriching his work with it. 

" Indeed the difliculties, the dangers, the diflreflls of all forts, which 

G g " mull 



2l6 



NOTES. 



" muft be encountered by the Chriftian miffionary, require a more than or- 
" dinary degree of that virtue, [charity,] and will only be fuflained by him, 

whom a fervent love of Chrift, and the quickening graces of his Spirit, 
" have anointed, as it were, and confecrated to this arduous fervice. Then 
" it is that we have feen the faithful minifter of the word go forth with the 
" zeal of an Apoftle, and the conftancy of a Martyr. We have feen him 
" forfake eafe and affluence, a competency at leaft, and the ordinary com- 

forts of fociety, and with the Gofpel in his hand, and his Saviour in his 

heart, make his way through burning deferts, and the howling wildernefs; 
*' braving the rage of climates, and all the inconveniences of long and pe- 
" rilous voyages ; fubmitting to the drudgery of learning barbarous lan- 

guages, and to the difguft of complying with barbarous manners ; watch- 
" ing the dark fufpicions, and expofed to the capricious fury of impotent 
" favages ; courting their ofFenfive fociety, adopting their loathfome cuf- 

toms, and affimilating his very nature almoft to theirs ; in a word, endur- 
" ing all things, he coming all things, in the patient hope of finding a way to 

their good opinion, and of fucceeding, finally, in his vinwearied endea- 
" vours to make the word of life and falvation not unacceptable to them. 

" I confefs, when I refledl pn all thefe things, I humble myfelf be- 
" fore fuch heroic virtue ; or, rather, I adore the grace of God in Jefus 
" Chrift, which is able to produce fuch examples of it in our degenerate 
" world." 

To the preceding eloquent defcription of a mifRonary, the Author begs 
leave to fubjoin the following animated obfervations of the learned Erafmus, 
on the moft efFedlual means of propagating the Chriftian religion. 

" Precor autem, ut Jefus, immortalis totius orbis Monarcha, cui divinitus 
data eft omnis poteftas in coelo et in terra, fpiritum fuum impartiat turn 
" populis, tum principibus : ut evangelica pietas inter nos bene conftituta, 
*' quam latiflime propagetur, non invadendis aut diripiendis aliorum regi- 
'* onibus ; fic enim pauperiores redduntur, non meliores : fed evangelica 
" philofophia finceriter fer viros evangelico fpiritu fneditos uhique prcedican- 
da ; atque it a vivendo, ut nojlrce pietatis fragrantia flurimos alliciat ad 
" ejufdem inftituti frofejjionem. Sic nata eft, fic crevit, fic late prolata eft, 
*' fic conftabilita eft evangelica ditio : diverfis autem rationibus fic nunc in 

" anguftum 



•NOTES. 227 

anguftum contra^lam, ac propemodum explofam videmus, li totius orbis 
vaftitatem confideres. lifdem itaque pracHdiis oportet reftitucre collap- 
fam, dilatare contradlam, conftabilire vacillantem, quibus primum nata 
eft, et auOia., et firmata." Def. Erafm. in Paraph- in Evang. ISIarc. 



THE END. 



ERRATA. 



Page 20. for Wiede read Wrede 

33. for Authafis read Autharls 

24. for Wilfeburg read Wilteburg 

28^ 29. for Aufcarius read Anfcarius 



Tht Binder is defired to f lace the Chronological Chart facing the Brief Hi/ioric Fiev.', j<age i. 



